Man City vs Fulham

The Premier League title race remains razor-sharp as Manchester City (2nd, 50 points) hosts Fulham (10th, 34 points) at the Etihad Stadium this Wednesday, February 11, 2026. Kick-off is scheduled for 19:30 GMT.

Following a hard-fought 3–2 victory over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday, Pep Guardiola’s side is currently six points adrift of league leaders Arsenal (who have 56 points). With City holding a game in hand, this midweek fixture is a "must-win" to keep the pressure on the Gunners.

Match Information

Manchester City: Chasing the Double

City’s winter has been uncharacteristically "ambiguous," as they recently fell nine points behind Arsenal before clawing back three over the weekend. The squad has been boosted by the January arrival of England international Marc Guéhi, who provided much-needed stability at Anfield.

Team News and Selection:

• The Injury List: Pep Guardiola remains without several key pillars. John Stones, Josko Gvardiol, Mateo Kovacic, Savinho, and Jérémy Doku are all ruled out.

• Bernardo Doubt: Captain Bernardo Silva requires a late fitness test after picking up a knock against Liverpool. If he misses out, Phil Foden is expected to return to the starting XI.

• The Goal Machine: Erling Haaland leads the Golden Boot race with 20 goals. Despite a quiet start to the calendar year, he returned to the scoresheet at Anfield and remains City’s primary weapon.

• Predicted XI (4-3-3): Donnarumma; Nunes, Khusanov, Guéhi, Ait-Nouri; Rodri, Bernardo Silva, O'Reilly; Semenyo, Haaland, Marmoush.

Fulham: Looking for an Etihad Upset

Marco Silva’s Fulham has been a picture of mid-table consistency, but they arrive in Manchester following a disappointing 2–1 home defeat to Everton. While they sit comfortably in 10th, Silva has lamented a "tactical struggle" in recent weeks as teams have begun to effectively press their build-up play.

Team News and Selection:

• Key Absences: Midfielder Saša Lukić and forward Rodrigo Muniz are sidelined with thigh injuries. January signing Oscar Bobb—who joined from City—is ineligible to face his parent club and is also nursing a hamstring issue.

• The Returning Stalwart: Kenny Tete is fit and available for his first start since New Year's Day.

• Creative Hub: Rayan Cherki has been the standout performer, ranking 2nd in the league for big chances created (14).

• Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Iwobi; Wilson, Smith Rowe, Cherki; Jiménez.

? Head-to-Head (H2H) and Key Stats

• The Goal Fest: The reverse fixture in December 2025 was an instant classic, with City escaping Craven Cottage with a 5–4 victory after leading 5–1.

• Historical Dominance: City has won their last 16 consecutive matches against Fulham across all competitions.

• Haaland's Record: Erling Haaland became the fastest player to reach 100 Premier League goals during the last meeting between these two sides.

• Defensive Woes: Fulham hasn't kept a clean sheet in eight matches, while City is currently conceding an average of 1.38 goals per match.

Tactical Preview and Prediction

Expect City to dominate possession as they look to exploit Fulham’s weakness against through-ball attacks—a strategy where Rodri and Bernardo Silva excel. Fulham will likely employ a high press, similar to the one Everton used to rattle them last week, hoping to catch City’s makeshift defense in transition.

Given City's desperate need for points in the title race and their historical stranglehold on this fixture, a home win is the most probable outcome, though Fulham’s attacking talent suggests they could find the net.

Final Score Prediction: Manchester City 3–1 Fulham