As Tottenham Hotspur prepares to face London rivals Fulham on Sunday, both clubs are coming off contrasting results from the previous Premier League weekend, each scoring four goals in their respective matches.
Tottenham’s performance was a resounding success, as James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski played pivotal roles in their dominant 4-0 victory over Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium. The pair were so influential in the match that renowned pundit Gary Neville was almost tempted to award them a joint Man of the Match accolade, highlighting their exceptional contributions to the win.
On the other hand, Fulham endured a frustrating setback in their 4-1 loss to Wolverhampton Wanderers at Craven Cottage. Despite initially taking the lead, Fulham failed to maintain their advantage, and a standout performance from Matheus Cunha helped Wolves turn the game around in emphatic fashion.
Although the mood in both dressing rooms is likely to differ significantly ahead of the match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, it’s easy to overlook that there is still just a single point separating the two teams in the Premier League standings. This means that Fulham, if they manage to secure an unlikely victory, could leapfrog Spurs and move ahead of them in the league table.
Tottenham head coach Ange Postecoglou is not underestimating the threat posed by Fulham, especially given their attacking options, which include players like Raul Jimenez, Alex Iwobi, and Emile Smith Rowe. He also lauded the work done by Fulham manager Marco Silva, who has successfully turned the club into a solid mid-table team just two years after their return to the Premier League.
Postecoglou expressed his admiration for Silva’s managerial abilities during his Friday press conference. “I have a lot of respect for Marco,” he said. “I think he’s an outstanding manager. He’s got the team playing in a way that they’re always a threat to the opposition. He’s really stabilised them, and now their level of performance is consistently high. We had some tough battles with them last year. Because they play good football, this should be a really exciting game.”
These sentiments were echoed by Manchester City’s Pep Guardiola, who also praised Fulham ahead of their match at the Etihad in October. While Fulham ultimately lost to City in a thrilling 3-2 encounter, their recent performances have proven that they can hold their own against some of the best teams in the league.
Moreover, Fulham has already delivered memorable results in recent seasons, including a 3-0 win over Tottenham in March, where Rodrigo Muniz was instrumental in securing a comprehensive victory.
As Spurs face Fulham, they will have to contend with a number of challenges, particularly in defence. Postecoglou acknowledged that his team is not invincible, embracing the unpredictability that makes football so captivating. “We’re not unbeatable. I’ve got news for you, no team is,” he said. “Fulham aren’t either. That’s the beauty of our sport. Even Liverpool have lost this year, God forbid. But when we’re at our best, we can beat anyone. We want to continue being the best version of ourselves.”
Tottenham’s inconsistency has been evident at times this season, and Postecoglou is keen to ensure that his team continues to improve, ironing out the rough patches. “On our day, we’re a compelling side, and we’re growing into the team we want to be,” he explained. “Sunday is no different from any other game. It’s about continuing to develop and pushing ourselves to reach our full potential. When we combine all of our strengths, we are a very good team.”
Tottenham will be missing several key defensive players for this match against Fulham. Goalkeeper Guglielmo Vicario is set to be sidelined for an extended period, which means veteran Fraser Forster is likely to take over as the starting goalkeeper. Additionally, Cristian Romero is not expected to return, and Micky van de Ven is still a few weeks away from making his comeback, with mid-December being a more realistic timeline for his return.
Despite these absences, Tottenham’s defensive depth was on display last weekend when the partnership of Radu Dragusin and Ben Davies successfully nullified the attacking threats of Manchester City, including the formidable Erling Haaland. This performance demonstrated that Tottenham may have more defensive resilience than many had initially given them credit for.
With both teams looking to build momentum, this London derby promises to be an intriguing encounter, with both clubs determined to claim all three points and continue their progress in the Premier League.