FA Cup 4th round: City to extend dominance over Fulham but game promises goals

Top of the Premier League meets top of the Championship in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday.

Manchester City and Fulham have both been potent in front of goal all season with the Cottagers topping the second-tier scoring charts by a huge margin and only Liverpool eclipsing the top-flight leaders.

The last time the sides met in the FA Cup was in January 2020 when City eased to a 4-0 win at the Etihad with the Cottagers forced to play with 10 men for all but six minutes following the sending-off of Tim Ream.

City to continue domination of recent years

Manchester City have completely dominated the meetings between the sides in recent years.

Fulham last recorded a victory back in April 2009 but the north-west side are unbeaten in the 17 subsequent clashes.

In fact, the Londoners haven’t even scored against Saturday’s opponents since April 2013 while City have found the net 21 times in seven games since.

Pep Guardiola’s side have only let six goals in at home this season and, although Fulham have been firing, it is a huge step-up in quality to playing the Premier League leaders.

City are at 1.96 to keep a clean sheet and at 1.9 to win to nil as Guardiola looks to take the FA Cup back to the Etihad for the second time to supplement the win in 2019.

Palmer may get chance to shine once more

City put out a strong side at Swindon in the third round with Kyle Walker, Ruben Dias, Joao Cancelo, Kevin De Bruyne, Ilkay Gundogan and Bernardo Silva all starting.

It was Cole Palmer though who really shone that evening with another of City’s hugely-talented youngsters scoring the final goal of the night.

The midfielder, who has risen through the ranks at the Etihad, is at 2.32 to score at any time while joint leading scorer Bernardo Silva is at 2.42 to find the back of the net.

Fulham enjoy ruthless scoring streak

The Cottagers have struck 74 times this season and their goal difference of 48 exceeds the goals total of every other team in the Championship.

They have scored 20 in their last four games - of which 19 were in three fixtures - to fire themselves to the top of the table.

Aleksandar Mitrovic has found the net 28 times and is at 3.8 to score at any time.

Talented teenage forward Fabio Carvalho’s £8million switch to Liverpool did not go through on transfer deadline day and he is at 6.6 to score anytime.

Mitrovic has found the net 28 times in the league this season

Fulham look to have more fun on their travels

Marco Silva’s side will have no fear about going to the Etihad having scored 37 times on the road this season.

They have twice scored seven on their travels - at Blackburn and Reading - and last lost an away game at Coventry on October 2.

They faced Premier League opposition in the Carabao Cup where they eventually lost on penalties to Leeds United at Craven Cottage.

There is a gulf in class between the divisions and they have a poor recent record against the hosts but Fulham to score in both halves is at 7.2.

Both teams to score and over 2.5 is at 2.04.

Recommended Bets

Cole Palmer to score at any time @ 2.32

Aleksandar Mitrovic to score at any time @ 3.8

Both teams to score and over 2.5 @ 2.04