Our live stream ahead of Wednesday night’s Premier League match Tottenham Hotspur vs Fulham is now up, kicking off at 20.15 GMT
You can keep an eye on the commentary as it happens below, but first, we take a preview into the fixture, lineups, predictions and much more…
Tottenham come into the game having beat non-league side Marine in what was a straightforward 5-0 victory against the eighth-tier side, ensuring progression to the fourth round of the FA Cup.
Spurs have won their last three without conceding in three different competitions, a run that has seen them reach the final of the EFL Cup, the fourth round of the FA Cup and climb up to fourth in the Premier League.
Tottenham still very much in Premier League title contention thanks to a return of 29 points from 16 matches.
That is largely thanks to teams around them also dropping points, having gone four without a league victory prior to the 3-0 win over Leeds United last time out in the competition.
Fulham were also victorious in their FA Cup third-round tie, albeit after being pushed all the way by West London rivals Queens Park Rangers at Loftus Road.
The contest finished goalless in normal time, but substitutes Bobby Decordova-Reid and Neeskens Kebano netted in extra time to seal a place in the next round.
Scott Parker’s men are now unbeaten in five in all competitions, although the other four games in that sequence finished in draws, the most recent being a stalemate with Southampton.
That leaves Fulham in the relegation zone, but they have two games in hand to play on Brighton and Hove Albion directly above them and a three-point margin to gap.
Tottenham and Fulham last met in January 2019, with Spurs winning 2-1 away at Craven Cottage…
PRESS CONFERENCE:
Jose Mourinho
Mourinho on the Mesut Ozil comment of retiring rather than playing for Spurs…
“Who told him that Tottenham would be interested in signing him?”
Asked if there’s interest in Stuttgart winger Nicolas Gonzalez…
“No”
On whether Alfie Devine has had a smile on his face this week
“I don’t know because I sent him back to the academy. When you reach that high moment then it’s the time to go and work.”
On whether he’d like to bring Oliver Skipp back…
“In a selfish perspective it would be good to bring him back now, but we’re not selfish. The players are very important. The future is very important the best thing for him is to finish the season there. Very successful loan for us and also for Norwich.”
“We’re very happy that he’s playing and he’s playing well. He’s playing to win and to win titles so he has that pressure on him too. He’s playing two or three matches a week so there’s also a physical development.”
“Next season he’s back, but we believe that for this season we think it’s best for him to stay at Norwich and he’s also very happy with that.”
On Winks transfer talk…
“(Laughs) What do I have to say to stop with this talk? I said already that he’s going nowhere. When I say he’s going nowhere, what more do you want me to say?”
“He played the last matches. He didn’t play the last one because it was a chance to let players like Gedson get minutes. Tomorrow he’s selected again. If someone’s talking to other clubs I’d say don’t waste your time.”
When asked about Fulham having just 48 hours notice of playing the game…
“Are you serious? They had 48 hours to prepare for this game. Look I had the news that I wasn’t going to play them two hours before the game started.”
Is Erik Lamela available for tomorrow?
“(Long pause) He is but I don’t know, but I think you understand what I want to mean. He can be selected for tomorrow, he can. Legally he can but I still have a decision to make.”
Scott Parker
When were you first made aware about the possibility of playing Spurs on Wednesday night?
“The possibility of playing Spurs came at the weekend, Saturday afternoon. Obviously, didn’t think that would be realistic to be fair. Then got told Monday morning at 9.30 that we now fill in for Aston Villa.”
“As you can imagine from my point of view, I think I realise and we all realise we live in an unpredictable time and you will have to move things that you’re used to. Certainly as a manager, we live in that climate everyday and I probably speak for a lot of managers, it’s not ideal.”
“I’m normally the last one to moan or whine about anything because I realise that it’s tough out there and it’s the way it is. What has happened to us, to confirm the game, a Premier League game, one of the best leagues in the world. To confirm that at 9.30 on Monday morning is scandalous.”
“It’s not about the fixture, the fixture, that’s fine, I accept we have to play. It’s the notice. Maybe the people in these places don’t understand how you manage teams or how you manage players.”
“You’re constantly working out well in advance. The decisions I would have made, whether that’s against QPR or players that are just coming back.”
“We’ve had it tough with COVID, we’ve not been out there with numbers publically but we’ve had it tough. Working those players over a weekend thinking you’ve got six or seven days to get them up to speed – that’s quickly changed on Monday morning. Madness really.”
What do you think of Jose Mourinho’s comments? Do you think this wouldn’t have happened to the big boys?
“To answer your question, regarding being told the game is being called off two hours before, it’s really an irrelevance. It’s disappointing you’ve had it called off but to have a game called on with 48 hours notice…”
“I don’t want to get into that regarding Jose but I think he’ll know to well you plan physical elements for the players, what you do in the week or play a game.”
“Tottenham knew they had this fixture in, Jose team’s selection at the weekend suggested that he’s probably planned for however many games they’ve got, they’ve got a lot of games granted.”
“Do I see this would happen if it was a top of the title clash with two of the biggest teams and managers who are constantly here speaking? Probably not, and rightly so. For me this is not acceptable, the integrity of the game, teh welfare of players. We’re putting them into a position after two days of training.”
“You haven’t got to work it out – we had a game called off with Spurs 13 days agao and the reason that was called off is we had numerous outbreaks of COVID. In 13 days, we now sit here and with two days notice you have to put some of these players in the position to play the game.”
FORM:
Manchester City Premier League form: WDDWWW
Manchester City form (all competitions): WWWWWW
Brighton & Hove Albion Premier League form: LDDDLD
Brighton & Hove Albion form (all competitions): DDDLDW
LINEUPS:
Manchester City possible starting lineup:
Ederson; Cancelo, Stones, Dias, Mendy; Rodri, Gundogan; Silva, De Bruyne, Sterling; Jesus
Brighton & Hove Albion possible starting lineup:
Sanchez; Webster, Dunk, Burn; Veltman, Propper, White, March; Trossard, Mac Allister; Maupay
SPORTSMOLE PREDICTION:
Manchester City 3-0 Brighton & Hove Albion
Manchester City have not been their usual dominant selves on the attacking front throughout the campaign, but at the other end of the pitch, their defensive prowess is evident.
Brighton supporters will not be looking ahead to this tie with any optimism whatsoever, and this should be a routine win for Guardiola’s men over the struggling Seagulls.
Time to take a look at our Tottenham Hotspur vs Fulham live match stream as it happens…
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