In the Premier League last season, Fulham had some great moments at Craven Cottage. As they prepare to play their first home game of 2024–25 against promoted Leicester, they are favorites.
The Cottagers thrashed Nottingham Forest and West Ham 5-0, beat runners-up Arsenal 2-1 and recorded 3-0 victories against Brighton and Tottenham last term.
Leicester are finding their feet under new manager Steve Cooper but they marked their return to the top flight with a battling 1-1 draw at home to Spurs on Monday night.
Team news
Fulham have no fresh injury concerns after their defeat at Manchester United.
Emile Smith Rowe is in line to make his home debut and the Cottagers are closing in on the signing of Crystal Palace centre-back Joachim Andersen.
Leicester striker Jamie Vardy will be assessed as he had been an injury doubt before playing against Tottenham.
The Foxes are likely to be missing forward Patson Daka, centre-back Conor Coady and full-back Luke Thomas.
The stats
Fulham were leading at half-time in five of their last six home victories
6 of the Cottagers’ last eight home games featured over 2.5 goals
Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz scored seven goals in 10 home Premier League starts last season
Leicester have lost 1-0 in three of their last four away league matches
Both teams have scored in only two of the Foxes’ last eight away fixtures in all competitions
Leicester lost 1-0 and 5-3 in two meetings with Fulham in the 2022-23 Premier League
Prediction
Leicester will have been delighted to get a Premier League point on the board at the earliest opportunity thanks to Jamie Vardy’s equaliser against Tottenham on Monday.
However, they were grateful for some sloppy finishing from Spurs, who created a host of good chances in the first half against the Foxes.
Fulham have the capacity to open up their visitors at Craven Cottage, where they averaged 1.63 goals per game last season, and summer signing Emile Smith Rowe is a big price to find the net.
Injuries and competition for places limited the attacking midfielder’s opportunities at Arsenal but he is a natural goalscorer from midfield.
He notched 10 league goals in 21 starts and 12 substitute appearances for the Gunners in 2021-22 and, with a clean bill of health, could become a regular scorer for Fulham.
Smith Rowe took only seven minutes to find the net on his pre-season debut against Sevilla and he should be backed to make an immediate impact at Craven Cottage.
