MX23RW : Sunday, February 2 16:57:26| >> :600:587737:587737:
Jan 26, 2020 at 1pm UK at ​Etihad Stadium
Attendance: 39,223
Man CityManchester City
4-0
Fulham
Gundogan (8' pen.), Silva (19'), Jesus (72', 75')
FT(HT: 2-0)

Ream (6')

Preview: Manchester City vs. Fulham - prediction, team news, lineups

Sports Mole provides team news, predicted lineups and a full preview of Sunday's FA Cup fourth-round tie between Manchester City and Fulham.

Manchester City continue their defence of the FA Cup with a fourth-round tie at home to Championship promotion chasers Fulham on Sunday afternoon.

Fulham pulled off an upset by knocking out Aston Villa in the last round, but they have lost their last eight matches against City in all competitions.


Match preview

Manchester City's Sergio Aguero celebrates scoring their first goal with Kevin De Bruyne on January 21, 2020© Reuters

City have lacked consistency in the Premier League this term but have been as ruthless as ever in the domestic cup competitions.

Pep Guardiola's men lifted the EFL Cup and FA Cup last season, as well as the Premier League, and are on course to retain both cups.

Having opened up a 3-1 first-leg lead over Manchester United in the EFL Cup, focus now turns to the visit of Fulham on Sunday and Guardiola has indicated he will field a strong XI.

The domestic cups and Champions League will take on added importance for the Citizens in the remaining months of the campaign due to their patchy league form, which has seen them all but relinquish their grip on the title.

Following Thursday night's 2-1 win at Wolverhampton Wanderers, Liverpool now have a 16-point lead with a game in hand still to play, leaving City to battle it out for second place.

A 2-2 home draw with Crystal Palace aside, City's form over the past month has been impressive as they have won six of their last seven games in all competitions.

That includes a 4-1 win over Port Vale in round three, with four different goalscorers registering at the Etihad Stadium to make it seven FA Cup wins in a row for City.

Fulham are the latest side with aspirations of stopping the reigning English champions, and they have already eliminated one Premier League club in Aston Villa this season.

Not since 2002-03 have they knocked out two top-flight sides in the same FA Cup campaign, however, and Scott Parker's charges enter the match on the back of a disappointing goalless draw at Charlton Athletic in midweek.

The Cottagers' failure to find a way through at The Valley means they remain three points adrift of the automatic promotion spots after playing a game more than the top two.

Earning a place in the Premier League remains the top priority for Parker, but this trip to the Etihad Stadium will be seen as a welcome distraction and a chance to pull off a massive upset.

Manchester City's FA Cup form: W
Manchester City's form (all competitions): WWWWDW

Fulham's FA Cup form: W
Fulham's form (all competitions): WLWWWD


Team News

Manchester City's Aymeric Laporte pictured on January 21, 2020© Reuters

Aymeric Laporte made a shock return to City's starting lineup against Sheffield United, coinciding with the club's first clean sheet in six matches.

The Frenchman, described as the best defender in the world by Guardiola, is expected to be eased back in after five months out so he could be given a day off on Sunday.

John Stones is carrying a knock but should be okay to feature, while Benjamin Mendy is another who is touch and go due to a muscle injury.

Young defenders Eric Garcia and Taylor Harwood-Bellis are pushing for inclusion, as is cup regular Phil Foden, who has been directly involved in nine goals in eight appearances against lower-league opposition.

As for Fulham, Aleksandar Mitrovic has spent a spell on the sidelines and is out for at least another week, but Parker's injury concerns have otherwise cleared up.

Anthony Knockaert and Aboubakar Kamara are unlikely to be risked here, though, with the home league clash against Huddersfield Town next weekend being pencilled in for their returns.

Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Bravo; Cancelo, Stones, Garcia, Zinchenko; D.Silva, Gundogan, Foden; Bernardo, Aguero, Sterling

Fulham possible starting lineup:
Rodak; Christie, Hector, Mawson, Odoi; Arter, Onomah, McDonald, Cairney; Cavaleiro, Reid


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We say: Manchester City 3-0 Fulham

Man City have scored 30 goals and conceded only four since last tasting defeat in the FA Cup just under two years ago. Guardiola is expected to field a strong side and that could spell trouble for Fulham, who have lacked goals in the absence of leading marksman Mitrovic.


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Who will win Sunday's FA Cup tie between Manchester City and Fulham?

Manchester City
Draw
Fulham
Manchester City
83.1%
Draw
3.1%
Fulham
13.8%
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Fulham manager Scott Parker on December 7, 2019
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Tables
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Liverpool25241060154573
2Manchester CityMan City25164565273852
3Leicester CityLeicester25154654262849
4Chelsea2512584334941
5Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd259972623336
6Manchester UnitedMan Utd259883629735
7Tottenham HotspurSpurs259883832635
8Wolverhampton WanderersWolves2581163532335
9Everton2596103137-633
10Arsenal2561363234-231
11Burnley2594122838-1031
12Newcastle UnitedNewcastle2587102436-1231
13Southampton2594123146-1531
14Crystal Palace257992229-730
15Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton2568113037-726
16Bournemouth2575132538-1326
17Aston Villa2574143247-1525
18West Ham UnitedWest Ham2566133043-1324
19Watford2558122339-1623
20Norwich CityNorwich2546152447-2318

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