A New Year’s Eve trip to the capital is in store for Nathan Jones’s Southampton as they travel to Fulham in the Premier League. This and more in today’s Match Pack, in association with eToro …
THE MATCH
Fulham vs Saints
Premier League
Craven Cottage
Saturday 31st December, 3pm GMT
THE OFFICIALS
Referee: Graham Scott
Assistants: Derek Eaton, Wade Smith
Fourth official: Darren Bond
VAR: David Coote
Assistant VAR: Dan Cook
WHICH KIT WILL SAINTS BE WEARING?
Southampton will be wearing their green third kit.
WHAT’S AT STAKE?
Fulham will be looking to continue their impressive first half of the season, with victory over Crystal Palace on Boxing Day only boosting their position in the top half of the Premier League table.
Sitting ninth in the league with 16 games played, Marco Silva’s side have continued to compete at the highest level since returning to the top division of English football.
A differing tale for Southampton, who will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing defeat to Brighton on Boxing Day.
With Nathan Jones’s side sitting bottom of the table but just two points adrift of safety, a win in the capital could provide a huge boost for the new boss and his side as they head into the New Year.
TEAM NEWS
Neeskens Kebano, Layvin Kurzawa and Manor Solomon are all ruled out for the hosts, while Southampton remain without Tino Livramento and Juan Larios.
Theo Walcott and Alex McCarthy remain a doubt, with Roméo Lavia nearing a return to fitness in the New Year.
THE MANAGERS
Marco Silva: To follow.
Nathan Jones: “The next game is always vital – you have to bounce back. You want to from a defeat and a poor performance and we are going to have to do that quickly.”
ONES TO WATCH
Aleksander Mitrović: Having netted ten goals already this season, the Serbian has played a pivotal role in Fulham’s emphatic return to the Premier League.
Sam Edozie: With Nathan Jones handing the 19-year-old a first Premier League start against Brighton, the youngster made a huge impression in front of a St Mary’s crowd on an otherwise disappointing day.
nathan jones
"As a pure, talented footballer, he is wonderful. He’s showing that if he can do what he's doing in the Premier League and against Liverpool and against Brighton then he has something."
on youngster sam edozie
TOP SCORERS
Fulham
Goals:
Aleksander Mitrovic 10
Bobby De Cordova-Reid 4
Pereira, Palhinha, Reed 2
Assists:
Andreas Pereira 4
Kebano, Tete 3
Southampton
Goals:
Ché Adams 8
James Ward-Prowse, 3
Perraud, Aribo 2
Assists:
Perraud, Ward-Prowse, Elyounoussi 2
HEAD TO HEAD
Played: 77
Fulham: 22
Draws: 25
Saints: 30
LAST FIVE MEETINGS
May 2021: Southampton 3-1 Fulham (Adams, Tella, Walcott)
December 2020: Fulham 0-0 Southampton
August 2019: Fulham 0-1 Southampton (Obafemi)
February 2019: Southampton 2-0 Fulham (Romeu, Ward-Prowse)
Fulham 3-2 Southampton (Armstrong)
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