Tottenham vs Fulham predictions: Conte's men set to stretch unbeaten start

Aidan Perkins
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Antonio Conte has Tottenham fans dreaming of a potential title challenge this season
Antonio Conte has Tottenham fans dreaming of a potential title challenge this season

Tottenham will be aiming to extend their unbeaten start to the season to six games when they host newly promoted Fulham on Saturday.

Antonio Conte's side are third in the table going into the weekend's action after picking up 11 points from a possible 15 and they will be confident of securing their fourth win of the season against the Cottagers.

Marco Silva's men have made a more than encouraging start to the campaign themselves, with eight points on the board from their first five matches but a trip to the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is among the toughest assignments for any team in the Premier League.

Tottenham vs Fulham (Saturday, 3pm)

Team news

Oliver Skipp has recovered from his recent heel injury and was back on the bench for Wednesday's draw with West Ham and Conte will hope Cristian Romero and Rodrigo Bentancur are fit enough following knocks to return to the Spurs squad for the Fulham clash.

Bryan Gil and Lucas Moura are expected to miss out again but Conte could opt to make changes with this game coming three days after the Hammers match and before Wednesday's Champions League group opener at home to Marseille.

Richarlison is pushing to start, as is Ryan Sessegnon, with Ivan Perisic tipped to be given a rest, while Yves Bissouma, who made his first Spurs start in midweek, is hoping to retain his place in midfield.

Harry Wilson and Manor Solomon remain absent for the visitors but Shane Duffy is available again after he was forced to sit out Fulham's win over his parent club Brighton on Tuesday.

Silva is likely to keep changes to a minimum, though, as his side have impressed in the first month of the season with star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic continuing to lead the line.

The stats

Fulham's eye-catching start to the season has been built on some fine performances and results at home, with Silva's side deservedly earning a 2-2 draw on the opening weekend against Liverpool, while their two wins so far have come at Craven Cottage against Brentford and Brighton.

Away from home has been more of a struggle and they are yet to win on the road, drawing with Wolves and losing to Arsenal, while they were also on the end of a shock in the Carabao Cup first round when they lost to Crawley Town.

Serbia international Mitrovic has been one of the standout performers in the Premier League so far, hitting five goals from the first five games with the opener against Brighton his 100th for the club.

Aleksandar Mitrovic has started the season in fine style
Aleksandar Mitrovic has started the season in fine style

Tottenham have won their first two home games of the season, beating Southampton 4-1 before a narrow 1-0 success over Wolves.

Striker Harry Kane has predictably shouldered the goal burden for Conte's side in the first month, the England captain bagging four, while Dejan Kulusevski's ability to create remains another important weapon for Spurs as the Swedish winger has managed two assists already this season.

These two London sides have met nine times in the past decade in the top flight and Spurs dominate the head-to-head record, winning seven, with Fulham's last victory over Tottenham coming back in March 2013 at White Hart Lane.

Fulham did pick up a 1-1 draw at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium the last time they visited, however, in January 2021.

Prediction

Both sides have made encouraging starts to the season and Fulham troubled Arsenal in their last away game, going in front before eventually losing 2-1.

The Cottagers are yet to win away this season, though, and they are preparing to take on a side who have a maximum six points from six at home so far so all the signs are that this will end in another victory for Tottenham.

The visitors can play their part and Mitrovic will again be a major goal threat on the break in a game that should see both get on the scoresheet.

Tags

Premier LeagueTottenham HotspurFulhamAleksandar MitrovicHarry Kane