Manchester City v Fulham – FA Cup Fourth Round, Preview, Team News And Prediction

Competition: FA Cup Fourth Round,

Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester, United Kingdom

Time and Date: Sunday 26^th January 2020, kick off at 1.00pm (UK), 8.00am (EST), 5.00am (PST)

Referee: Kevin Friend

Assistant Referees: Gary Beswick & Edward Smart

Fourth Official: Jonathan Moss

VAR: Jarred Gillett

Assistant VAR: Constantine Hatzidakis

TV Info: BBC1 (UK), NBC Sports Network (USA), ESPN+

Live Stream: *******LIVE SPORTS, FUBO TV (USA) Fubo.tv showsevery Manchester City game with a high-quality and legal stream. New to Fubo.tv? Click here

Preview

Holders Manchester City welcome Fulham to Manchester as the blues look to follow the example set by the Women’s wide and progress to the fifth round of the FA Cup.

The blues faced a tough test at home to Port Vale in the last round, before eventually overpowering the League One side to beat them 4-1. Fulham on the other hand, overcame Premier League opposition in the form of Aston Villa, who they beat 2-1 at Craven Cottage.

Fulham are enjoying a good season under Scott Parker, who has guided the Cottagers to 3^rd place in the Championship, and the blues will have to be prepared to be patient if they are to break down their West London opponents.

It has been 116 years since these two were last drawn together in the FA Cup, with the blues running out 2-0 winners in that encounter in January 1914.

Team News:

Aymeric Laporte may feature in the match after making a successful return from long-term injury during the win at Sheffield United in midweek, while John Stones and Benjamin Mendy are set to return after missing the match in South Yorkshire. And apart from Leroy Sane, manager Pep Guardiola has a full-strength squad to choose from.

Fulham top scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic will miss the match with an ankle injury, while Harrison Reed, Aboubakar Kamara, Anthony Knockaert and Maxime Le Marchand could also miss out.

Prediction:

While Fulham pose a threat, the potential loss of many key players may mean a more cautious approach, and that will only give City impetus to attack, and I can’t see Fulham holding out.

City 3-0 Fulham