Key Facts
- Manchester City go into the matchday in second place (50 points), six behind Arsenal and only three ahead of Villa – so in the title race, only a win will do.
- City have won the first half without conceding in four of their last five games, while Fulham’s last five games have all ended with less than 1.5 goals before the break.
- With Gvardiol and Stones out and Khusanov doubtful, City look vulnerable defensively; Fulham can score on the counterattack with Wilson, Muniz, and Bobb as options.
- Fulham is coming off league defeats at United (2-3) and against Everton (1-2), has conceded goals in each of its last five games, and will continue to be without Lukić and Cairney.
- In head-to-head matches, City has won the last five games without a draw, scoring at least two goals in each; four of those games went over 3.5, including the 5-4 win in December 2025.
Manchester City is under pressure in the title race, which is why every detail counts at the Etihad. Pep Guardiola’s team goes into the 26th matchday of the Premier League in second place with 50 points, six points behind Arsenal and only three ahead of Aston Villa, after a late 2-1 win at Liverpool, including the momentum to match. Fulham travels in tenth place with 34 points, firmly anchored in the tight midfield and recently too shaky in the league. The fact that the December 2025 clash at Craven Cottage ended 5-4 in City’s favor explains why goal bets are quickly back in the mix here.
- Venue: Etihad Stadium, Manchester
- Date and time: February 11, 2026, 8:30 p.m.
- Competition: Premier League (Matchday 26)
At the same time, City’s defensive line is patchy: Gvardiol and Stones are missing, Khusanov is doubtful after his collision at Anfield Road, which opens the door for “Both teams to score: Yes,” especially with Fulham’s counter-attacking threat via Wilson and the added availability of Muniz and Bobb. Coupled with Fulham’s recent tendency to wobble at the back while still contributing a goal themselves, Over 2.5 goals also feels like it would fit the pattern of play that this pairing often produces.
Man City Form & Record Check
City’s recent run across all competitions reads impressively, but their performance has not been flawless. There was a 2-2 draw at Tottenham, followed by a confident 2-0 league win against Wolves and then a controlled 2-0 victory in the Champions League against Galatasaray. The 3-1 win in the League Cup semi-final against Newcastle was another indication that Guardiola can still turn a game around with minor changes. The victory at Anfield Road was the clearest picture of where City currently stands: resilient, ruthless in the decisive moments, and at the same time a tad more open than Guardiola probably likes. Haaland’s late penalty made the difference after Silva had scored, and Donnarumma’s saves were relevant, but the overall defensive picture remains thin because Gvardiol is out long-term and Stones is not yet ready. That’s exactly why the rotation around Rodri and the question of how quickly Dias and Guehi can stabilize the center could determine how comfortable it feels in the end.
Guardiola is likely to stick with a 4-1-4-1, although this is only a prediction, with Donnarumma behind a back four of O’Reilly, Guehi, Dias, and Lewis. González would probably play as the lone defensive midfielder, allowing Foden and Reijnders to drive the midfield, with Cherki and Semenyo on the wings alongside Haaland. Gvardiol, Stones, Kovacic, Doku, and Savinho are still out, while Khusanov is doubtful. With the ball, the assumption is that City will switch to a 3-2-5, with Lewis moving inside alongside González and Dias organizing the rest of the defense. That should give Cherki space to drift into the right half-space, while Foden attacks the left half-space and feeds Haaland early.
If Guardiola wants more control, Rodri could replace Reijnders or González, and Nunes or Aké would be the most obvious adjustments at the full-back positions.
Fulham Form & Record Check
Fulham’s last league games have been entertaining, just not kind to them. They lost 3-2 at Manchester United, then lost 2-1 at home to Everton, a game that saw an own goal in their favor and another against them. That was exactly how it should have been, because in the end, small things went the wrong way. In between, the 2-1 home win against Brighton showed that they can continue to play with determination when the tempo suits them. It is striking that Fulham’s games are often decided after the break, partly because the first halves are tight and partly because their defensive concentration does not last for 90 minutes. They have conceded a goal in each of their last five games, so at the Etihad it will not only be about creating chances, but also about surviving long periods without the ball. The good news for Marco Silva is that Muniz is available again, Bobb is fit, and Tete remains an option, even though Lukić and Cairney are still out.
Silva is likely to stick with his usual 4-2-3-1, with Leno behind Castagne, Andersen, Cuenca, and Robinson. Berge and Reed look like the most likely duo in the double six, as Lukić is still out and Cairney is also unavailable. In front of them, Smith Rowe could play in the center, flanked by Wilson and Chukwueze, while Jiménez is likely to start up front despite Muniz being an option again. Tete and Bobb could bring fresh legs off the bench.
Man City – Fulham Head-to-head & statistics
City have won the last five encounters, with no draws. That’s a clear run that carries weight when assessing how Fulham fare against this particular opponent. The most recent game in December 2025 ended 5-4 at Craven Cottage, while City won 2-0 in May 2025. The earlier games had a similar tone, with a 3-2 win at the Etihad in 2024 and later a 4-0 away win in 2024. The pattern is not only that City wins, but that City scores quickly and keeps the game moving. In those five games, City scored at least two goals each time, and four out of five went over 3.5 goals. The only exception was the more controlled 2-0 win in May 2025. Fulham has had its moments in individual games, most notably that goal fest in December 2025, but the bigger story is that City consistently finds ways to convert pressure into goals before Fulham even has a chance to settle.
