Pep Guardiola Worried About Fulham’s Speedy Attack

LONDON - Manchester City and Arsenal, last season's English Premier League title contenders, are currently behind Liverpool in the early stages of the campaign. However, they are anticipated to challenge Liverpool for the title throughout the season.

As it stands with six games played, Arne Slot’s leaders are top of the standings on 15 points – ahead of City and Arsenal who both have 14 – and travel to Crystal Palace in the lunchtime kick-off on Oct 5.

A victory would mean that Liverpool would be four points clear before City host Fulham and Arsenal welcome Southampton in the later matches.

CIty manager Pep Guardiola knows that his reigning champions cannot afford another slip-up, after being held to their second straight Premier League draw by Newcastle United (1-1) last weekend.

They are expected to win this game fairly easily, as they have beaten Fulham in their last 16 encounters in all competitions. If they avoid defeat, they would also extend their impressive unbeaten home record to 50 games.

But Guardiola is wary of any opponent as usual.

“I see the last six games, since the first defeat against (Manchester) United, they didn’t lose,” he said.

“The best moment for Fulham, I will say this season. (Manager) Marco Silva is already a few years there in London. They bought interesting players there... they have a lot of weapons, speed.

“(Alex) Iwobi, I have never seen him in the form that he is playing now. Adama (Traore) always creates problems. (Raul) Jimenez is back. Always has been tough, I am concerned with what they do.”

The Cottagers have made their best start to a Premier League season since 2003 and are no pushovers. Silva’s side have 11 points and are sixth in the table, just three points behind City and Arsenal.

City also have some injury concerns, as Rodri, Oscar Bobb, Nathan Ake and Kevin de Bruyne are all sidelined.

Should they falter, Arsenal are well placed to take advantage.

Following a 2-2 draw with City in September, the Gunners head into the clash with Southampton on the back of three home victories in all competitions – the last being a 2-0 win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League.

Their unbeaten run in all tournaments now stands at 15 games since they lost to Bayern Munich in April.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta will be aware that home form is crucial, while victory against the Saints would be their 400th in front of their fans in the Premier League, behind only United (426).

When asked about the Gunners’ long unbeaten streak, he praised his team’s progress.

“That’s what we are trying to do,” said Arteta.

“We had a really difficult fixture list after the international break (facing the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, City and Champions League games against Atalanta and PSG), but we adapted.

“We look forward and we competed in all games. We have shown a lot of consistency and adaptability.”

Like City, Arsenal have injury concerns in Oleksandr Zinchenko, Kieran Tierney and Takehiro Tomiyasu, while Ben White and Jurrien Timber are doubtful.