Key Facts
- Fulham and Newcastle are both on 49 points; for both teams, the final matchday is mainly about final standings and morale.
- Fulham has gone three league games without a win, failed to score in three of their last five, and has thus lost touch with European qualification.
- Newcastle comes into this match with more attacking momentum following their 3-1 win over West Ham, thanks to a brace from William Osula and another goal from Nick Woltemade.
- Fulham is missing key options in the final third with Alex Iwobi and Raúl Jiménez out, which means Rodrigo Muniz will likely have to shoulder more responsibility.
- Newcastle has won the last two head-to-head matches 2-1 each, but Fulham’s current lack of goals makes an open repeat less certain.
- Under 2.5 goals seems statistically sound, as four of Fulham’s last five league games have stayed under that mark.
Marco Silva’s uncertain future at Fulham and Kieran Trippier’s expected departure from Newcastle cast a shadow over this final Premier League match of the season, foreshadowing the summer. On Sunday, May 24, Fulham hosts Newcastle at Craven Cottage; both teams are on 49 points, with Newcastle in 11th place on goal difference and Fulham in 13th after a rather lackluster finish to the season. Newcastle comes into the match with a bit more offensive momentum following their 3-1 win over West Ham, while Fulham’s 1-1 draw at Wolves reinforced the impression that Marco Silva’s team has lost its fluidity on the ball.
- Venue: Craven Cottage, London
- Date and time: May 24, 2026, 5:00 PM
- Competition: Premier League (Matchday 38)
The betting market slightly favors Newcastle away, but a 1X bet has its appeal because Eddie Howe’s team is traveling with defensive absences and has conceded a goal in each of their last five league games. Under 2.5 goals and Both Teams to Score: No also fit this picture: Fulham have failed to score in three of their last five games, Alex Iwobi and Raúl Jiménez are out, and Newcastle’s momentum currently hinges largely on William Osula.
Fulham Form & Record Check
Fulham’s 1-1 draw at Wolves felt less like a springboard for renewed momentum and more like a microcosm of their late-season slump. Antonee Robinson’s penalty saved a point, but Marco Silva’s side once again struggled to turn possession into real pressure.
Following defeats to Bournemouth and Arsenal, this result extended their winless streak in the league to three games and put European qualification out of reach. The statistics aren’t flattering: Fulham failed to score in three of their last five league games, and four of those matches ended with fewer than 2.5 goals. While the 1-0 home win against Aston Villa showed that they can still manage close games, the absence of Alex Iwobi and Raúl Jiménez leaves them lacking versatility in the final third. Silva must also decide how much to shake up the front line, especially since Harry Wilson’s playing time has recently come under scrutiny and Rodrigo Muniz is likely to shoulder more responsibility. Fulham is level with Everton and just two points ahead of Leeds, so a clean sweep on the final matchday would prevent a decent season from ending on a sour note.
This is just a prediction, but Fulham could line up in a 4-2-3-1 with Bernd Leno, number 1, in goal. The likely defensive axis will be formed by Issa Diop, number 31, and Calvin Bassey, number 3, in central defense, with Saša Lukić, number 20, and Sander Berge, number 16, providing cover in midfield. Ryan Sessegnon and Alex Iwobi are out with thigh injuries, and Raúl Jiménez is also struggling with a knock. As a result, Antonee Robinson, number 33, Kevin, number 22, and Rodrigo Muniz, number 9, appear to be the obvious replacements, while Oscar Bobb, number 14, and Emile Smith Rowe, number 32, are likely to provide Marco Silva’s team with the necessary finesse between the lines.
Newcastle Form & Record Check
Newcastle’s 3-1 win over West Ham was their most convincing league performance in recent memory and has shifted the mood heading into the final stretch. Nick Woltemade scored his first league goal since December, William Osula netted twice, and Eddie Howe finally had a front line that looked more flexible, with Woltemade better integrated between the lines rather than just as a pure number nine. That shouldn’t mask the weaknesses, however. Newcastle has conceded goals in five consecutive league games, and their last five matches also include losses to Bournemouth and Arsenal. The draw at Nottingham Forest was useful, not dominant, and the injury list continues to hurt, especially with Fabian Schär, Tino Livramento, Emil Krafth, and Lewis Miley out. Nevertheless, Newcastle has the greater offensive potential. William Osula’s six goals in his last eight Premier League appearances have shifted the debate over the starting lineup, while the buzz surrounding Sandro Tonali and Anthony Gordon is already adding some excitement to the summer. Level on points with Fulham but two points behind Sunderland, Newcastle can still make this finish look much more promising.
Newcastle could line up in the expected 4-2-3-1 formation, with Nick Pope, No. 1, in goal and a back four of Kieran Trippier, No. 2, Malick Thiaw, No. 12, Sven Botman, No. 4, and Lewis Hall, number 3. Fabian Schär, Tino Livramento, and Emil Krafth are out, so these defensive roles are likely to be filled by this exact lineup.
Fulham – Newcastle Head-to-Head & Stats
The last five head-to-head matches have been evenly split, with Newcastle winning three and Fulham two. Newcastle won the most recent encounter 2-1 in the League Cup quarterfinals in December 2025, following a 2-1 victory in the Premier League back in October 2025. Fulham’s most recent response was a 2-1 league win at St James’ Park in 2025. Craven Cottage did not make this pattern any more predictable: Fulham won 3-1 at home in 2024, while Newcastle had won their previous visit there earlier that same year by a score of 1-0. The stronger trend lies in the goals, as Newcastle has scored in all five games, Fulham has conceded in all five, and four of the five matches ended with over 2.5 goals. This creates an interesting dynamic for betting. The head-to-head record points toward goals, while Fulham’s current form and personnel situation suggest otherwise. It’s quite possible that history suggests Newcastle will be dangerous in the second half, but recent performances make a repeat of those open 2-1 games less certain than the bare statistics might suggest.
