Fulham go in search of their first Premier League victory of the season as well as end to the curse of the international break that has dogged Marco Silva’s reign when Leeds United visit Craven Cottage as the domestic campaign resumes this afternoon.
The Whites have had a curious start to the 2025/2026 season – leaving aside the silly season speculation and the slowness of the club’s summer recruitment. They were bailed out at Brighton by Rodrigo Muniz, who seems to be settled after some serious flirtation with Atalanta, in stoppage time and then saw Emile Smith Rowe score within 71 seconds to salvage a point against Manchester United after Calvin Bassey was penalised for a shove on Mason Mount but then conceded an own goal after being pushed in the back by Lenny Yoro, whose header from a corner deflected in off Muniz. The ridiculousness of the SW6 derby a fortnight ago, with Josh King’s stunning strike ruled out for a non-existent foul by Muniz on Trevoh Chalobah, still rankles. Those events have made judging a difficult start almost impossible – and, as Silva said during yesterday’s press conference, such a testing run of fixtures would have stretched any club.
The arrival of Kevin, Samuel Chukwueze and Jonah Kusi-Asare on deadline day provided some of the bodies that Silva had been seeking much earlier but still leaves us guessing about the composition of the first-team squad, especially as Harry Wilson appeared to be on his way to Elland Road for a couple of hours before the deadline. Silva scotched the notion that there might be pressure on him after collecting two points from Fulham’s first three fixtures yesterday, whilst conceding that he wants the Whites to play on the fortnight and turn their historic home into the fortress that delivered those special nights under Roy Hodgson.
The good news is that the head coach looks like he has a fully fit squad to choose from. He will surely switch to a back four, including the excellent Antonee Robinson,nagainst a Daniel Farke outfit that will be all about sitting deep and exposing the hosts’ out wide, as Charlie Shaw suggested in yesterday’s tactical assessment. There has been a clamour for Kevin to start over the past few days that has merit – with the 22 year-old winger in fantastic form for Shakhtar already this term at both ends of the field. Silva’s new squad has a surfeit of wingers and the Cottagers’ supremo may end up finding it difficult to utilise all of the talent at his disposal in the wide areas, although they will be pivotal this afternoon against James and Willy Gnoto.
What does mean for Iwobi, who played in a central role for Nigeria in Bloemfontein in midweek, Wilson and Ryan Sessegnon, whose redemption was one of the most remarkable stories of last season? The Fulham manager would be forgiven for adopting a horses for courses approach depending on the possession and calibre of the opponents. Silva insisted nobody in white would be underestimating a side who have claimed important clean sheets in the early weeks of the season against Newcastle United and Everton – but the Whites will need to end their hoodoo against newly-promoted teams.
Farke’s visitors have some injury problems, with goalkeeper Lucas Perri out for at least two games due to a quad strain. Both Joel Piroe and Lucas Nmecha are likely to be on the bench at best as they will fitness tests well before the kick off but Ethan Ampadu and Ao Tanaka, but Joe Rodon could slot back into the back line for the visitors.
Fulham will need to be sharp from the first whistle and make their early pressure count. It’s easier said than done – but Silva’s side are nothing if not determined.
**MY FULHAM XI (4-2-3-1):** Leno; Tete, A. Robinson, Andersen, Bassey; Lukic, Berge; Iwobi, R. Sessegnon, King; Muniz. **Subs:** Lecomte, Diop, Castagne, Cairney, Iwobi, Smith Rowe, Chukwueze, Kusi-Asare, Jimenez.