Tottenham Hotspur vs Fulham Preview – Premier League, December 1, 2024
.jpg)
The English Premier League continues with a London derby as Tottenham Hotspur face Fulham at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday, December 1, 2024. With both teams chasing distinct objectives this season, the match promises excitement, drama, and tactical battles.
Spurs are pushing for a Champions League spot under manager Ange Postecoglou, while Fulham, led by Marco Silva, aim to consolidate their position in the league's mid-table and potentially push for a top-half finish.
Event Details
Date: Sunday, December 1, 2024
Competition: English Premier League
Match: Tottenham Hotspur vs Fulham
Venue: Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, London, England
Kickoff Time: 4:30 PM (GMT)
Team Overview
Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham have been a revitalized force under Ange Postecoglou’s attacking philosophy. Despite some defensive frailties, their fluid attacking style, led by stars like Son Heung-min and James Maddison, has made them one of the most entertaining teams to watch this season.
Form: Spurs have been strong at home, making the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium a fortress.
Key Players: Son Heung-min, James Maddison, Cristian Romero.
Strengths: Creative midfield, clinical finishing, and aggressive pressing.
Fulham
Fulham, meanwhile, have established themselves as a tough team to beat. Marco Silva has instilled discipline in the squad, making them defensively resilient while maintaining a threat on the counter. Players like Joรฃo Palhinha and Willian have been instrumental in their campaign.
Form: Fulham have been inconsistent away from home but remain dangerous, especially on the break.
Key Players: Joรฃo Palhinha, Willian, Aleksandar Mitroviฤ.
Strengths: Defensive organization, physicality, and set-piece threat.
Team News
Tottenham Hotspur
Spurs have a few concerns regarding injuries and fitness ahead of this clash.
Injury Updates:
Rodrigo Bentancur: Recovering from a long-term injury, likely unavailable.
Yves Bissouma: A minor knock, doubtful for the match.
Brennan Johnson: Out with a hamstring issue.
Suspensions: None.
With a busy schedule, Ange Postecoglou may rotate his squad slightly but is expected to field a strong lineup.
Fulham
Fulham have also faced a few injury setbacks.
Injury Updates:
Tim Ream: Sidelined due to a muscle injury.
Kenny Tete: A doubt with a calf issue.
Adama Traorรฉ: Likely unavailable due to a hamstring problem.
Suspensions: None.
Marco Silva will rely on his core group of experienced players to challenge Spurs in this derby.
Possible Lineups
Tottenham Hotspur (4-3-3)
Goalkeeper: Guglielmo Vicario
Defenders: Pedro Porro, Cristian Romero, Micky van de Ven, Destiny Udogie
Midfielders: Pierre-Emile Hรธjbjerg, James Maddison, Giovani Lo Celso
Forwards: Dejan Kulusevski, Son Heung-min, Richarlison
Spurs’ attacking trident, led by Son, will look to exploit Fulham’s defensive gaps.
Fulham (4-2-3-1)
Goalkeeper: Bernd Leno
Defenders: Issa Diop, Calvin Bassey, Antonee Robinson, Cedric Soares
Midfielders: Joรฃo Palhinha, Harrison Reed, Andreas Pereira
Forwards: Willian, Bobby Decordova-Reid, Aleksandar Mitroviฤ
Fulham’s strategy will revolve around Mitroviฤ’s aerial prowess and Willian’s creativity.
Playing Ground – Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
The Tottenham Hotspur Stadium is one of the most modern and electrifying venues in the Premier League. With a capacity of over 62,000, the stadium is known for its incredible atmosphere and state-of-the-art facilities. Spurs’ strong home record makes this venue a challenging place for visiting teams.
Head-to-Head
The history between these two London clubs has often favored Tottenham.
Last 5 Meetings:
January 2024: Fulham 1-2 Tottenham
September 2023: Tottenham 2-1 Fulham
March 2023: Tottenham 1-0 Fulham
September 2022: Fulham 0-3 Tottenham
March 2022: Tottenham 1-1 Fulham
Spurs have been dominant in recent encounters, but Fulham are capable of causing an upset.
Tactical Analysis
Tottenham Hotspur
Under Postecoglou, Spurs have adopted a high-tempo, possession-based style. They aim to overload wide areas, create triangles in midfield, and exploit the opposition with quick transitions.
Key Tactical Objectives:
Maintain possession and dictate the tempo.
Exploit Fulham’s full-back areas through Kulusevski and Son.
High pressing to force mistakes in Fulham’s defensive third.
Fulham
Marco Silva’s Fulham focus on a solid defensive shape and quick counters. They often target set pieces and utilize Mitroviฤ’s physicality to trouble opposition defenses.
Key Tactical Objectives:
Stay compact and deny Spurs space in midfield.
Use Willian and Decordova-Reid to launch counters.
Capitalize on set pieces with Mitroviฤ’s aerial ability.
Key Players to Watch
Son Heung-min (Tottenham Hotspur): Son’s pace, movement, and finishing make him Spurs’ most potent attacking weapon.
James Maddison (Tottenham Hotspur): The creative hub of Tottenham’s midfield, Maddison’s ability to unlock defenses will be crucial.
Aleksandar Mitroviฤ (Fulham): A constant aerial threat, Mitroviฤ will look to test Spurs’ defense with his physicality.
Joรฃo Palhinha (Fulham): Fulham’s midfield enforcer, Palhinha’s defensive work and ball distribution are key to their game plan.
Live Stream and Broadcast Information
UK: Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League.
USA: NBC Sports and Peacock.
India: Star Sports Select and Disney+ Hotstar.
Global: Check local listings or the Premier League’s official website for broadcasting details.
Prediction
Tottenham’s attacking depth and home advantage make them favorites in this London derby. However, Fulham’s disciplined approach and set-piece threat mean they should not be underestimated. Spurs are likely to dominate possession, but Fulham’s counterattacking game could make for an intriguing contest.
Predicted Score: Tottenham Hotspur 3-1 Fulham