Fulham vs Everton
Ninth plays 10th in a tantalising top-flight clash on Saturday when the Premier League game between Fulham and Everton kicks off with a 3pm start at Craven Cottage.
The two clubs have European aspirations, just two points behind Brentford in seventh, a spot that almost always picks up a ticket to a Europa League competition. And after slow starts to the 2025/26 campaign, both teams have been in good form since the turn of the year, though David Moyes’ Everton have struggled to turn draws into wins.
Marco Silva’s Fulham are ahead of the Toffees on goals scored alone, as the two clubs are locked on 34 points with a -1 goal difference, and the Cottagers boss will be keen to keep his nose in front of Moyes’ men. He has an extra incentive as he will be facing the team he managed in 2018 and 2019. Silva’s tenure at Goodison Park went well in his first season with an eighth-place finish, but he was sacked in December 2019 with the Toffees languishing in 18th place.
His current team has been beaten by his old friends twice in the last year, so the Fulham boss is due a taste of revenge. And his team will be keen to bounce back after they fell to an injury-time defeat away to Manchester United last Sunday, while Everton scored a late, late leveller to snatch a point away to Brighton.
Talking Points
Oscar Bobb’s in to Fulham
The Cottagers moved smartly in January to pull off one of the most eye-catching signings of a difficult window, with the capture of Manchester City winger Oscar Bobb in a £27 million transfer. He’ll wear the No. 14 shirt at Fulham, and Bobb will fill the creative void left by Adama Traore, who has moved to relegation-threatened West Ham United. The 22-year-old Norwegian spoke to his compatriot Sander Berge before meeting with Silva, and he had no hesitation in signing on the dotted line.
Bobb is a typical Silva player, plenty of flair, energy, and pace. If he continues to progress after playing 47 times for the Sky Blues, he will be a fan-favourite at the Cottage before long.
The Cottagers were so close to taking a point away from Old Trafford last week, but Michael Carrick’s run as Red Devils manager continued thanks to an injury-time strike from Benjamin Sesko. But minutes before, exciting forward Kevin scored a beauty, and with Harry Wilson also in sensational form, Bobb joins a team that can entertain and deliver points.
Draw specialists Everton pack a punch
The Toffees have drawn four of their last five games, all with a 1-1 scoreline, and while Moyes’ side is devilishly difficult to break down, it can bite like a cobra. Title-chasing Aston Villa discovered this when they fell at home to the Toffees just over a week ago.
In my SBOTOP preview of Everton’s visit to Brighton, I picked out Thierno Barry as Everton’s biggest threat, as he’s been in good scoring form, hitting the winner against the Villans. But it was the forgotten man, Beto, who bagged a 97th-minute leveller against Brighton last weekend, to keep Everton’s unbeaten run safe.
Beto is likely to start on the bench again this Saturday. But one player unlikely to feature in the Premier League 2026 highlights is winger Dwight McNeil, who saw his deadline day move to Crystal Palace collapse at the last minute.
McNeil’s girlfriend took to social media to say how disappointed her man was, as the two clubs had agreed upon the Monday deadline. But time ran out, and the former Burnley star remains a Toffee, until summer at least.
History
Everton have won 21 of their encounters with Fulham to the Cottagers’ 13, and there have been eight draws over the past 42 matches in all competitions.
At Craven Cottage, Fulham have fared much better, winning 10, drawing five, and losing five. However, the Toffees took a 3-1 victory away from West London last season, and when the two teams met at Bramley Dock in November, Everton ended a three-match winless run with a 2-0 win.
In terms of recent form, Fulham have won three, drawn one, and lost two of the last six games, while Everton have won one, lost one, and drawn four.
Betting Tip
The pre-match Premier League 2026 betting odds are pointing towards a home win with the Cottagers at odds of 2.00, Everton at 3.60, and the draw at 3.35.
Another 1-1 draw for the Toffees is priced at 6.00. And while that may well happen, I’m hedging my bets, as I think Silva might just put one over his old friends.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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