Ipswich vs Fulham: Preview, predictions and lineups
Ipswich Town host Fulham on Saturday afternoon in the Premier League
Tractor Boys still searching for first top-flight point since promotion
Cottagers earned victory over newly-promoted Leicester last weekend
Ipswich Town couldn’t have been handed a much trickier start on their Premier League return, but things get a little easier when Fulham travel to Portman Road this weekend.
The Tractor Boys hosted Liverpool before travelling to reigning champions Manchester City in their first two outings back in the top flight, losing both matches by an aggregate score of 6-1. They are still chasing their first Premier League points in over two decades and will view Saturday’s clash with Fulham as the perfect opportunity to get on the board.
Fulham suffered late heartbreak in their trip to Manchester United in the Premier League’s opening match, but earned a hard-fought victory over newly-promoted Leicester City last weekend at Craven Cottage. Summer signing Emile Smith Rowe opened his account and Alex Iwobi bagged the winner in a 2-1 victory.
Kieran McKenna is without a handful of players for the visit of Fulham, including Wes Burns after his injury on the opening day. Nathan Broadhead, Harry Clarke and George Hirst are all sidelined, too.
Ipswich have been busy in the transfer market this summer and there could be appearances for new recruits Jens Cajuste, Kalvin Phillips, Jack Clarke, Dara O’Shea and Chiedozie Ogbene.
Ipswich predicted lineup vs Fulham
Ipswich predicted lineup vs Fulham (4-2-3-1): Muric; Tuanzebe, Woolfenden, Greaves, Davis; Morsy, Phillips; Hutchinson, Szmodics, J. Clarke; Delap.
Fulham team news
Fulham head to Suffolk with a clean bill of health. much to the relief of manager Marco Silva. The 2-0 win over Birmingham City in the Carabao Cup midweek saw some summer signings handed minutes, including Joachim Andersen, Sander Berge and Jorge Cuenca.
However, the team that faces Ipswich is unlikely to be too dissimilar from the one that beat Leicester last weekend, with Rodrigo Muniz, Antonee Robinson, Smith Rowe and Iwobi all returning to the starting XI.
Fulham predicted lineup vs Ipswich
Fulham predicted lineup vs Ipswich (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Pereira; Traore, Smith Rowe, Iwobi; Muniz.
Ipswich vs Fulham score prediction
Ipswich have shown promise in two extremely challenging opening fixtures and an array of exciting summer additions will naturally have lifted spirits around Portman Road. They look more than capable of causing issues for the so-called ‘lesser sides’ in the division.
Saturday’s affair is likely to be a tight one but Fulham should have enough quality to come away from Ipswich with victory. Their forwards are starting to gel at the beginning of the new campaign and their reinforced defence and midfield will only make them tougher to break down.
