Fulham

Noel Sliney
BBC Sport senior journalist

Aston Villa and Fulham were knocked out of the Carabao Cup in midweek but will both be seeking a third consecutive league win on Saturday night (20:00 GMT).

The hosts have a strong home record in this fixture, with their solitary defeat in 18 Premier League meetings at Villa Park coming in April 2014.

Villa building momentum

Aston Villa are yet to lose a Premier League game in the month of October under Unai Emery, winning eight times and drawing four. Last Saturday's win over league leaders Manchester City marked the four-year anniversary of Emery's appointment, and on Friday this week he surpassed Martin O'Neill as the club's longest-serving manager since the gilded reign of Ron Saunders from 1974 to 1982.

After admitting he used the difficult first month of the campaign before the international break as an extended pre-season to mould his new-look side, Emery's Villa 2.0 are taking shape. The club's two most expensive signings are more than justifying their hefty price tags, with Johan Manzambi a creative tour de force and Nicolas Jackson scoring six goals in as many games.

Villa reeled off six wins and a draw in seven games across all competitions before Wednesday's limp surrender by mostly fringe players at Bournemouth in a customary early Carabao Cup exit under the Spaniard. "Premier League is the priority," said an unapologetic Emery afterwards.

That being the case, Villa have been meeting their manager's demands of late, earning a league-high 10 points from the past four rounds of matches.

Fulham in need of cutting edge

While Villa are in thrall to their Spanish manager, many Fulham supporters are reserving judgement on theirs.

Some of the pressure on Alvaro Arbeloa was alleviated by consecutive 1-0 league wins over promoted opponents, but Wednesday's Carabao Cup defeat at home to struggling Crystal Palace has stirred up the unrest.

That tie was an all-too-familiar tale under Arbeloa of dominating possession but lacking a cutting edge. Fulham average 58% possession in the league this season – the fifth highest – and can be easy on the eye; only Manchester City have strung together more sequences of at least 10 passes, and no side can match Fulham for the volume of those ending in a touch or shot in the opposition penalty area.

There's no lack of effort either, with Arsenal the only side to cover more ground this season. Having improved defensively of late, Fulham's major ongoing issue is that they're not taking their chances.

The Cottagers rank in the league's top 10 for a variety of attacking metrics – including more goal attempts on target than Arsenal – but their shot conversion rate is the fourth worst in the division.

I am not surprised that Fulham's Premier League form has picked up because after watching them earlier in the season I thought they should have more points than they had.

The Cottagers are a well-structured team but I still don't see them stopping an in-form Aston Villa, or their striker Nicolas Jackson, at this moment in time.

Villa are on a great run in the league and I am expecting more goal action from Jackson here.

Sutton's prediction: 3-1

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham fan John Charles is full of praise for Aston Villa before his side play them at Villa Park on Saturday night (20:00 GMT).

"Aston Villa we get results against at Craven Cottage. At Villa Park you have to go back to 2014 for the last time we got a result there," he said.

"Villa are a fantastic side, they have the second best Premier League manager. Unai Emery has got that club exactly where he wants it and even though they've been destroyed with transfers out over the summer, they've been flying with a recent win over Manchester City.

"It's going to be a tough game for us, 8pm on a Saturday night. For those of you who follow me on social media, I have had a rant about this one, I really don't like it. It's great if you're watching from home, or in a pub. It's so inaccessible for the away fans.

"I think a draw would be fantastic against this side. I expect Villa to finish in the top four. They're a serious side with a serious manager. I'm not too optimistic but I'm hoping we can use this Crystal Palace loss as almost a bit of a boost."

You can listen to the full clip on BBC Sounds.

Josh Lobley
BBC Sport Researcher

Fulham boss Alvaro Arbeloa has been speaking to the media before Saturday's Premier League game against Aston Villa at Villa Park (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• There are no new injuries following Fulham's defeat against Crystal Palace in the EFL Cup.

• On his team's performance in that game: "We did well enough to win the game but even with the [possession] data, we can do better in the final third. We could have created more chances."

• When asked about Antonee Robinson's performance in the defeat: "I can't blame any of my players because I always ask them for maximum effort. Some days you have good days and sometimes you have really unlucky days. They need to think about the next game. He will start tomorrow. He is so important for us and a very good player."

• He says Emile Smith Rowe needs to "wait for his opportunity", after being asked about his lack of minutes: "He was injured two weeks ago against Hull. After that, it's difficult for every player to be involved in every game because we have 23 players. They need to keep working as they are doing. When you are a player like Emile who isn't playing you can't be happy and that is normal. You need to come here every day and give your best. He is doing a good job."

• Arbeloa assessed his first three months of managing in England: "It's a very tough challenge but I am so happy to be here. I am where I want to be and I'm really enjoying my days. I want to win games and I think we're performing well but we need to improve."

• On Saturday's opponents: "They are very compact, they defend so well and even with the ball they know what they have to do. And they have top players, and when you have a top coach with top players, normally you have a top team."

• He says fellow Spainard Unai Emery is one of the best coaches in their country's history, adding: "I think right now he is one of the best coaches in the world. He is very, very good, he improves everything every year. It doesn't matter where he is coaching, he's doing an amazing job, and for me also it's a very good challenge to face him."

Follow all of Friday's Premier League news conferences and the rest of the day's football news

Image source, Getty Images

We asked for your thoughts after Wednesday's Carabao Cup ties between Fulham and Crystal Palace.

Here are some of your comments:

Fulham fans

James: Fulham were awful. They had good chances in the first half but did not take them. Crystal Palace outplayed them in the second half. Both their so-called strikers are simply not up to the task. They need a new coach, two strikers and a central defender to replace Andersen. Relegation looming.

Guy: Frustrating to see so many shots straight at the keeper. Passing the ball left and right with 75% control but no outcome. We need a couple of players who can beat a keeper in January, or it'll be a long, hard season.

Phil: Absolute rubbish! Palace let us have all the possession knowing we wouldn't do anything with it. Just took their one chance and that was that. So frustrating, as expected. So useless.

James: It is hard to blame the manager right now, when the final ball is so poor and the strikers have nothing to feast on. When the chances do arrive, there is a distinct lack of composure, meaning we are far too easy to defend against. The players look as frustrated as the fans feel, and I fear, unless the squad finds a bit more speed and intensity, it's going to be a tough few weeks for everyone in the squad, including the manager.

Crystal Palace fans

Rich: Really poor defensively in the first half but much improved in the second and probably should have added a second goal towards the end. Team showed more character, probably because of the return of Henderson. Richards back to his best and a great finish by Nketiah.

Paul: A win and a welcome clean sheet. Henderson looked incredibly rusty though.

Mike: Sage proved those who said he cannot organise a defence wrong, even with 10 changes to the starting line-up. Richard's was outstanding and was easily man of the match. We now need to do it in the league with a tough game this weekend.

Lee: A morale-boosting win, a clean sheet and an improvement all round. Henderson made a big difference, Osorio showed glimpses, Mingueza played well and Hughes stiffened up the midfield. Great also to see Doucoure back. The fans are well behind the team and Sage. Need to build on this and still a lot to work and improve on both as a team and individually.

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham boss Alvaro Arbeloa on the 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup: "Difficult night for us because we wanted to be in the next round.

"It was a very important game for our supporters, for the club, in a London derby. It is a team that beat us some weeks ago and now they did it again by doing more or less the same and that's waiting for our mistake.

"I think we need to learn and improve and we have to do better.

"It's almost impossible [to win] if you have three or four clear chances and you don't score.

"We know that in every match they will have chances, here it was just one, but they took it. They were waiting and defending really well

"I think we can do better. We have to move the ball quicker against a very low block.

"We need to create more chances in the wide areas. We need to understand how to attack a team like Crystal Palace."

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Fulham's performance

What did you make of Crystal Palace's display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Thursday for a selection of your replies.

There are five Carabao Cup fourth round games on Wednesday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Manchester City v Brighton (19:30)

• Bournemouth v Aston Villa

• Fulham v Crystal Palace

• Sunderland v Brentford

• Liverpool v Chelsea (20:00)

Kick-off times 19:45 GMT unless stated.

Follow all of the action and reaction here

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on your smart speaker. Just say "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play Chelsea v Hull City" or "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play the Everton match", for example.

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Huzaifah Khan
BBC Sport journalist

Fulham boss Alvaro Arbeloa has been speaking to the media before Wednesday's Carabao Cup game against Crystal Palace at Craven Cottage (kick-off 19:45 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

• On team news, Arbeloa confirmed everyone is available and Sander Berge is "feeling better" after overcoming illness.

• On connecting with the fans who chanted his name following the win at Coventry, the Spanish boss said it was a "special moment" and that he felt he had to "earn that moment".

• He added: "Sometimes I felt that I was not doing good enough to be there and I'm sure when we were losing games our fans were behind us and they were supporting me even when we are not winning games."

• On whether he will make wholesale changes as he has done in previous rounds, he responded: "I expect to play the strongest team tomorrow. Obviously we played three days ago and we have another match in three days but I am thinking about winning this game - only thinking about that."

• On the Carabao Cup, Arbeloa said: "For me, this cup is really important. It's a great opportunity for us to reach a final, so three more games. We are not far. I am thinking about the best 11 I can put on the pitch."

• He added: "We're playing at home against a team that beat us some weeks ago. Important game for us because we want to be there and we are ready for another battle."

• On Palace's recent struggles, he said the visitors will see the game at Craven Cottage as a "good opportunity" for a team that is not in the best moment.

• Finally, he touched on the chance for his side to exact "revenge" on their cup opponents following their defeat to the Eagles last month, saying: "It's another London derby and maybe a revenge for us because we want to win the game that we lost some weeks ago, so we are thinking that tomorrow is going to be difficult."

The Athletic's Adam Crafton says "it seemed unfair" how Fulham boss Alvaro Arbeloa "wasn't given much grace" for their start to the 2026-27 Premier League season.

The head coach, who was appointed in July, faced early pressure from fans after taking seven games to get their first win of the season.

"He wasn't given much grace given to him early in the season," said Crafton on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club. "It felt like people looked at their summer recruitment where they brought in a lot of young players and fans didn't want to give him that much time. That seemed unfair.

"I really like some of the players they have bought. Shea Charles is really good in midfield."

Conversation moved on to the form of striker Gonzalo Garcia, who has one league goal so far since joining from Real Madrid.

Ex-Premier League striker Chris Sutton said: "I'm not so sure he's a natural finisher. I have seen him miss a couple of chances, just the way he finishes, taking extra touches. They lost 19 goals with Wilson and Jimenez. They have Muniz, who I think is a better fit for them in terms of getting them up the pitch and linking."

Following back-to-back wins, Fulham have eight points and sit 15th in the table.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Coventry City and Fulham.

Here are some of your comments:

Coventry fans

Lee: Disappointed and I don't say that very often. I thought we did OK to go into half time 0-0 but after half-time we were slightly on top but never looked like scoring. We're missing that attacking edge that almost every other team has.

Paul: Poor all over the pitch, no creativity at all! New players have not added any quality. Missing a leader!

Arthur: Sadly it feels like we keep trying the same tactics and starting line up, they huff and puff but the quality isn't crisp. Yes loyalty to last years squad is noble - but the newcomers haven't been used enough and it isn't enabling us to compete in games and create enough clear scoring opportunities. We don't have enough striker firepower upfront and using wingers to fill gaps won't convert enough goals. Frank has the backing of the board but when will he have to start gambling more? Any football manager only has so much time

Steve: The bubble has burst so quickly after the two wins. No cutting edge up top and yet Simms, since his goal against Newcastle, not given a look in. Trying to stay hopeful but fearing the worst.

Fulham fans

Craig: Poor performance overall in attack but a valuable three points. How much longer can Arbeloa stick with Garcia though? Muniz deserves to start.

Laurence: New players, new manager, new tactics, but same Fulham problem - dominating matches and possession but unable to put the ball in the net. All of the possession against Coventry and again just one goal. I don't know what the root problem is (that is what the manager is paid for) but I do know things needs to change.

Adam: Overall happy with the win but Arbeloa has to swallow his pride and bench his Madrid boy Gonzalo Garcia. He provides absolutely nothing and has not adapted to the Premier League. Muniz needs minutes and Garcia needs to learn.

Christopher: Great passing and pressing. We just need to get a higher percentage of our shots at goal between the posts, under the crossbar and out of the reach of the goalie, then we could start to do really really well!

Alvaro Arbeloa spoke to Sky Sports after Fulham's victory against Coventry: "So happy - again a very good game for us in a difficult stadium. Another clean sheet. We competed really well, tried to play our football. Not an easy game but we did well, scored our goal, controlled the game. Took the ball and controlled for the last 10 minutes. We ran, pressed and this is what we want - very happy."

On Oscar Bobb's goal: "Young player and for me as a coach it would be easier to sign players with experience but they have the talent and I trust them. They are the people and the future of Fulham. Happy with this young talent.

"We are working so hard every day and we need to be at our best every day. We started to prepare this game at the beginning of the week. It's important to involve every player in the squad, players from the bench did well. So happy with everyone and this is the way we have to play."

On Tom Cairney: "Amazing - he is our captain and when Tom is playing I ask everyone to give the ball to Tom. We need his talent and his experience."

Did you know?

• Fulham have recorded a possession of 60% or higher for the fourth time in the Premier League this season (64% today), with only Man City having more such games this term (6).

• Only Junior Kroupi (13), Charalampos Kostoulas (8) and Rayan (7) have been involved in more Premier League goals among teenagers since the start of last season than Josh King (6 - 3 goals, 3 assists).

Adam Millington
BBC Sport journalist

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham's start to life under manager Alvaro Arbeloa, who took charge in the summer, has been of mixed quality.

Their 1-0 triumph over Hull last weekend finally delivered a victory after collecting just two points from their first six league games - although they had also managed draws in potentially tricky games against Manchester United and Liverpool.

The hope for Fulham fans will have been that picking up a win marked a turning point for their season. Saturday's victory was far from convincing but points towards their fortunes improving.

Up against another promoted side on Saturday, their style of play was similar to usual, with a keen focus on keeping possession.

But it rarely translated to good opportunities in the final third - and they struggled to pose a threat when it came to finishing off attacking moves.

It eventually took perseverance and a moment of good skill from Bobb to seize victory.

While the possession statistics made for good reading for Fulham as they held 64% of the ball to Coventry's 36%, they would have hoped to have posed more of a threat as they only managed to chalk up 0.55 xG.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Coventry City's performance

What did you make of Fulham's display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Monday for a selection of your replies.

There are four games in the Premier League on Saturday and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Aston Villa v Manchester City (12:30)

• Arsenal v Everton - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Coventry City v Fulham - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra

• Chelsea v Tottenham (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

Kick-off times 15:00 BST unless stated.

Follow all of the action and reaction here

How to follow the Premier League weekend across the BBC

You can also listen to today's 5 Live Premier League commentaries on your smart speaker. Just say "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play Chelsea v Tottenham" or "Alexa, ask BBC Sounds to play the Fulham match", for example.

New this season: Live match updates

Fans of Premier League clubs can now get real-time scores live on their phone lock screen for every game.

Simply follow your favourite football teams on the BBC Sport app for updates throughout the 2026-27 season.

Find out more here

Image source, BBC Sport

New this season: Match of the Day Predictor

Simply predict the outcome of the six fixtures we've selected from across domestic and European competitions every week.

Players can join at any time, get involved with the latest round and start building a streak.

Read more about it here

You can find the predictor in the navigation bar at the top of this page, or on this link

Whoever loses this is likely to end the day in the relegation zone.

Sometimes these kind of games can be quite cagey, with both teams afraid of being beaten, but here I feel like Coventry and Fulham will have a go and there could be a few goals flying in.

Coventry have a bit about them going forward, especially when they use their pace on the counter-attack, but they are also a bit vulnerable defensively.

Because of that, I am going to go with Fulham. They got their first win of the season against Hull City last week and they are definitely capable of getting another one here.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here