Fulham vs Ipswich Preview: Team News & Prediction
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Marco Silva’s Fulham will be looking to kick on in 2025 and challenge for European qualification with the Cottagers beginning the year against an Ipswich Town side buoyed by a first home win.
Kick-off date/time: Sunday 5th January, 2025: UK – 2:00pm / US ET – 9:00am / US PT – 6:00am
How to watch on TV: UK – Sky Sports / US – USA Network
How to watch online: UK – Sky Go / US – Telemundo
Fulham Preview: Cottagers need consistency
Fulham begin the weekend sitting tucked inside the top-half of a congested Premier League table as they search for a top seven or eight finish and potential European qualification. The Cottagers have been left frustrated by too many draws, though.
They most recently shared a 2-2 draw with AFC Bournemouth at Craven Cottage last weekend, conceding a late equaliser to Ghana international Antoine Semenyo. That means they have drawn five and won two of their last seven matches.
Ipswich Preview: Motoring Tractor Boys
Kieran McKenna’s Tractor Boys earned their first home win of the Premier League season last week as they defeated Chelsea by two goals to nil at Portman Road thanks to a penalty scored by Liam Delap and then a second-half strike from Omari Hutchinson.
The Suffolk-based club have been competitive in pretty much every game they play and will believe they have what it takes to stay up but there will be a concern that the only sides that can realistically overtake, Everton and Wolverhampton Wanderers, are Premier League stalwarts.
Fulham Team News: Reed returns
Harrison Reed has returned to full training at Fulham after dealing with a long-term injury issue so he could be back involved in the squad this weekend. However, this week will come too soon for Sander Berge, who is still dealing with an ankle issue.
Predicted XI (4-5-1): Leno; Castagne, Diop, Andersen, Bassey; Wilson, Pereira, Lukic, Iwobi, Robinson; Jimenez
Unavailable: Tete (Injured), Berge (Injured), Nelson (Injured)
Questionable: Reed (Fitness)
Ipswich Team News: Chaplin injury
Kieran McKenna has confirmed that attacker Conor Chaplin will be sidelined for a couple of weeks due to a knee injury. He also said that Christian Walton would continue in goal after he replaced Arijanet Muric last week and kept a clean sheet against Chelsea.
Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Walton; O’Shea, Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis; Morsy, Cajuste; Burns, Hutchinson, Broadhead; Delap
Unavailable: Tuanzebe (Injured), Donacien (Injured), Ogbene (Injured), Chaplin (Injured), Hirst (Injured)
Questionable: Luongo (Illness)
Fulham vs Ipswich Prediction
Fulham will need to get more wins on the board to ensure that aforementioned top eight finish but it would be an unfair criticism to suggest they are underperforming. Marco Silva will be a touch frustrated as they try and take the game to Ipswich, once again. Ipswich have found things a little easier against teams that play football and are less direct so it could well suit their own style but Fulham do remain favourites, especially with their home advantage.
Fulham vs Ipswich Tip: Fulham to win & both teams to score
