Dias returns for Premier League clash at Fulham | OneFootball

Ruben Dias comes in for the Premier League clash against Fulham as the only change for today’s huge fixture at Craven Cottage.

The Portuguese defender is the only change from the side that beat Wolves 5-1 last weekend at the Etihad Stadium.

He replaces Kyle Walker who move to the bench and Kevin De Bruyne captains the side for the 12:30 (UK) kick-off.

Jack Grealish is not fully fit for the clash with the Cottagers and is not in the matchday squad.

CITY XI: Ederson, Akanji, Dias, Ake, Gvardiol, Rodrigo, Kovacic, De Bruyne (C), Bernardo, Foden, Haaland

Subs: Ortega Moreno, Walker, Stones, Doku, Alvarez, Gomez, Nunes, Bobb, Lewis

TACTICS

With four natural centre-backs starting, Guardiola has options in how they will line up. It's likely that Josko Gvardiol and Manuel Akanji will begin as full-backs with Nathan Ake alongside Dias.

Mateo Kovacic is expected to be alongside Rodrigo to offer control with Phil Foden and Bernardo Silva likely to be either side of Kevin De Bruyne.

Erling Haaland looking for a second successive hat-trick after his treble against Wolves and he also scored one against Fulham earlier in the season.

HIGH AND DRY

Guardiola has prepared his players for a different style of football with the sun out in West London for today’s game.

The City boss has the squad ready in case the Craven Cottage grass is longer and unwatered, saying that it makes for a different type of football.

At this stage of the season, the mathematics are very simple, City have to win our remaining three matches to secure a record fourth successive Premier League title.

His attention to detail is legendary and any marginal gain could be the difference today.

Of course, current leaders Arsenal could slip up in either of their final two matches at Manchester United and on the final day against Everton, but City will want to get the job done themselves, starting at Fulham today.

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MATCH STATS

Fulham have won just one of their 15 Premier League home games against City, last winning in  November 2005 under Chris Coleman.

We have won our last 15 meetings with Fulham in all competitions – it’s the joint-longest winning run any team has had against another in competitive English football history, with City also having 15-game runs against Bournemouth and Watford.

City have scored in all 15 of their Premier League away games against Fulham – it’s the joint-most a team has faced another on the road with a 100% scoring record in the competition, along with Manchester United at Middlesbrough.

Fulham have won just one of their last seven Premier League games and they’re winless in each of their last three at Craven Cottage.

City are unbeaten in our last 20 Premier League games – winning each of our last six in a row, netting 4+ goals on five occasions in that run.

Away from home, we face four shots more per game than we do in home Premier League games this season (6.1). Only four teams have a bigger such difference in the competition this term. However, we also have the highest shots-per-game average away from home (17.8) this term.

Erling Haaland has scored five goals in his three Premier League games against Fulham, netting a hat-trick in our 5-1 win in the reverse fixture this season. He’s netted a penalty in all three games, with no player ever scoring from the spot in four consecutive Premier League appearances against a specific opponent.

Haaland has been involved in 11 goals in 11 Premier League games in London, scoring nine and assisting two. He’s only failed to score or assist a goal in three of his 11 matches in the capital so far