Premier League: Squeaky Bum Time Starts Here!

Fulham vs Manchester City

Welcome back, Premier League.

After the final international break of the campaign, it is back to the most exciting show on earth and the start of the run-in – what Sir Alex Ferguson famously dubbed ‘squeaky bum time’.

A clash between bottom and top, with one chasing several honours and the other destined for the drop.

But is this really the SBOBET away banker most of you think it is?

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Serie A

Talking Points

Certainly Fulham gave champions Manchester City’s title rivals Liverpool a scare last time out and this time the Cottagers may be boosted by the return of Andre Schurrle who has missed the last five games with a virus.

You wonder how Fulham may have fared this season had the talented Schurrle been more widely available over the past seven months.

When he was appointed caretaker manager a month ago, Scott Parker knew the task he faced down on the Thames and so it has proved.

Encouraging home displays against both Liverpool and Chelsea have given him reason to believe he could be the man to help the club bounce back to the top flight should, as it seems likely, they be relegated.

The fact remains, though, that Fulham have lost seven successive league matches and, since turn of the year, have lost 11 of their 12 games in all competitions.

They also have the worst form of any Premier League team over the last 10 matches, earning just three points and have kept just two clean sheets in the league — the lowest of any Premier League side. Just one of those has come at home.

Fulham have actually conceded 70 league goals this season, more than any other top-flight side. They have conceded at least twice in each of their last 11 league games, which is a Premier League record.

In contrast, Pep Guardiola’s side have netted 79 league goals this season, more than any other top-flight side, and the in-form Raheem Sterling has eight goals in his last four starts for club and country.

It should be an away banker as City roll into town, but we know football is not always like that.

After tests of a different kind were overcome in their last two outings – both in FA Cup and also in Europe(City have scored 13 goals in their last three games in all competitions) — Guardiola’s men are hoping to welcome back key men as they chase an unprecedent quadruple triumph.

Several big names (have they got any players who aren’t!) are training again after injury, including Kevin De Bruyne, captain Vincent Kompany, Benjamin Mendy, John Stones, Nicolas Otamendi and, perhaps most importantly of all, the underrated Fernandinho.

Even without some of those names,City have won their last six league games, scoring 16 and conceding two goals.

They also have the best form of any Premier League team over the last 10 matches, dropping just three points out of a possible 30.

Who is your money on?

Newly appointed caretaker manager Scott Parker believes he is the man to help Fulham to bounce back in Premier League — Fulham caretaker Scott Parker watches over warm-up before Premiere League match against Chelsea

History

City have won the past six league meetings against Fulham and scored 10 goals without reply in their last three matches.

Indeed, it’s almost a decade since Fulham beat Manchester City – a 3-1 Premier League win at the Etihad Stadium in April 2009 when Clint Dempsey (two) and Dickson Etuhu (a former City youth player) were on target and City had Robinho and Daniel Sturridge among their substitutes.

You have to go back to September 2011 for the last time Fulham took points off City – a 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage where the hosts fought back from two goals down from Bobby Zamora and an own goal after Sergio Aguero had netted twice.

Betting Tip

	Fulham vs Manchester City	Total goal 2-3 @ 2.49
	March 30, 8:30(GMT+8)

After producing Premier League 2019 highlights galore so far, Aguero and company will surely relish meeting opponents who have been defeated in 25 of their last 26 Premier League matches against the established top six (drawn one), including all 11 this season, and have a goal difference of minus 41 – the worst in the top four divisions of English football.

Unsurprisingly then, Premier League 2019 betting odds are one-sided beyond.

1X2 City @ 1.13 and 1X2 Fulham @ 20.00 are as wide as any I’ve seen in recent years.

Even the draw is offered @ 7.40.

Asian Handicap has City -2.50 @ 2.03 and over 3.75 goals at 1.98 which also shows how this one is expected to go.