Fulham are riding a wave of unrelenting momentum heading into their final game of 2024 against Bournemouth.
The Cottagers are in the highest of spirits entering Sunday’s game after they secured a historic victory at Chelsea on Boxing Day. Rodrigo Muniz struck at the last to hand Fulham their first win at Stamford Bridge in 45 years.
“It will be one of the best Boxing Days for the fans in the last 50 years,” manager Marco Silva gleefully asserted post-match, with his team climbing up to eighth in the table.
Fulham, like their upcoming opponents, are currently six games unbeaten and they’ll usurp sixth-place Bournemouth with a win on home soil.
The Cherries’ Boxing Day venture wasn’t quite as euphoric as they played out a fairly drab stalemate with Crystal Palace at the Vitality. However, Bournemouth supporters have little to complain about given what their side’s already accomplished this term.
These two outfits, given their respective starts to the season, must harbour genuine aspirations of securing European football for 2025/26.
Here’s 90min’s guide to this Premier League clash.
Fulham vs Bournemouth H2H Record (Last Five Games)
Current form (all competitions)
|
Fulham |
Bournemouth |
|---|---|
|
Chelsea 1-2 Fulham – 26/12/24 |
Bournemouth 0-0 Crystal Palace – 26/12/24 |
|
Fulham 0-0 Southampton – 22/12/24 |
Man Utd 0-3 Bournemouth – 22/12/24 |
|
Liverpool 2-2 Fulham – 14/12/24 |
Bournemouth 1-1 West Ham – 16/12/24 |
|
Fulham 1-1 Arsenal – 08/12/24 |
Ipswich 1-2 Bournemouth – 08/12/24 |
|
Fulham 3-1 Brighton – 05/12/24 |
Bournemouth 1-0 Tottenham – 06/12/24 |
|
Country |
TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
Not televised |
|
United States |
Peacock |
|
Canada |
fuboTV Canada, Fubo Sports Network 7 Canada |
Fulham are without several key players for Bournemouth’s visit, including Antonee Robinson, who’s arguably been the Premier League’s standout left-back this season. Robinson is suspended after picking up his fifth league booking on Boxing Day.
With Timothy Castagne deputising for the injured Kenny Tete at right-back, Calvin Bassey will likely fill in for the USMNT star.
The hosts are also without Sander Berge due to an ankle injury, while Reiss Nelson is out for a little while with a hamstring issue. Emile Smith Rowe is a doubt with a knock, but there could be a return to the matchday squad for Harrison Reed.
Fulham predicted lineup vs Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Diop, Andersen, Bassey; Lukic, Cairney; Wilson, Pereira, Iwobi; Muniz.
Bournemouth also have a player suspended on Sunday. The visitors will be without penalty maestro Justin Kluivert due to yellow card accumulation.
Adam Smith is the newest addition to a fairly extensive injury list, but the veteran right-back is only carrying a knock and could be available this weekend.
Marcus Tavernier is set to return from a hamstring injury in the new year, while Alex Scott and Luis Sinisterra are closing in on their respective returns. Julian Araujo and Marcos Senesi have long waits until they’re fit and firing again.
Bournemouth predicted lineup vs Fulham (4-2-3-1): Kepa; Aarons, Zabarnyi, Huijsen, Kerkez; Adams, Cook; Semenyo, Billing, Ouattara; Evanilson.
This should be an intriguing bout between two of the division’s form teams, although both managers will have to adapt and adjust with multiple players absent.
Fulham coped well at Stamford Bridge given their list of injuries, with Marco Silva’s appreciation of balance setting the stage for a historic victory. He’s coached brilliantly this season, and the battle on the touchline with Andoni Iraola will be decisive in determining Sunday’s victor.
Without Tavernier and Kluivert, Bournemouth have lost some of their dynamism and guile, although Evanilson’s return to the XI should supply an upsurge from their muted stalemate on Boxing Day.
The fight for control may never be won here between two evenly-matched sides, and a sharing of the spoils only seems fair.