'The big question': Chris Sutton predicts Man City v Fulham; suggests one specific run will end
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Manchester City take on Fulham this weekend looking to get back to winning ways in the league after drawing their last two league games against Arsenal and Newcastle.
Pep Guardiola is making do without influential midfielder Rodri and he must find a way for his team to get back to normal without the Spaniard.
Of course, a home tie against Fulham – despite their good form – is something Guardiola and City should relish right now.
City hammered the Cottagers last season and more of the same will do nicely this weekend.
And according to Chris Sutton, City will indeed get back to winning ways, albeit with a challenge thrown in.
Chris Sutton predicts Manchester City v Fulham
Making his prediction for the BBC, Sutton has insisted that City's run of conceding goals will come to an end this weekend.
"I've got Fulham wrong a few times this season by underestimating them… I am still not going to back them to get anything at Etihad Stadium though," Sutton said.
"Manchester City were not quite at it against Newcastle last weekend, whether that was down to Rodri's absence or not, and they will have to do better this time – which is what I am expecting to happen.
"Fulham have got a nice balance to them, but can they keep City out? They lost this fixture 5-1 last season with Erling Haaland scoring a hat-trick and, while they might suffer less damage this time, I can still only see one outcome.
"The big question for me is whether City keep a clean sheet. They have conceded in their past five league games, but based on the law of averages – so nothing scientific – I think that run will end here.”
City will be well up for it after recent draws
Fulham are playing well and in Emile Smith Rowe, Adama Traore and Raul Jimenez, they have players who can hurt City.
However, at The Etihad, there's just no way City will be losing this one or dropping more points.
With Arsenal now above them, every game matters more and more for City and they will want to avoid another slip up to allow the Gunners a sniff.
Sutton, then, is probably right on the money here with a comfortable win for Pep's men.
