Manchester City v Fulham: Squad sheets - The Guardian

Here is the champions' first chance to put pressure on Manchester United, with a win against Fulham cutting the leaders' advantage to four points until Sir Alex Ferguson's men kick-off at Tottenham Hotspur late on Sunday afternoon. Last week's heartening 2-0 win at Arsenal, Manchester City's first league outing in the absence of Yaya Touré, who is on Africa Cup of Nations duty, showed their resolve. Fulham are 23 points behind the hosts and have won only twice away all season, so this match should end with only one result. Jamie Jackson

Venue Etihad Stadium, Saturday 3pm

Tickets Sold out

Last season Man City 3 Fulham 0

Referee Jon Moss

This season's matches 11 Y28, R1, 2.64 cards per game

Odds Man City 2-7 Fulham 12-1 Draw 5-1

Manchester City v Fulham: Probable starters in bold, contenders in light. Photograph: Graphic

Manchester City

Subs from Pantilimon, Nielsen, Lescott, Kolarov, Sinclair, Tchuimeni-Nimely, Dzeko, Balotelli, Guidetti, Nasri

Doubtful None

Injured Maicon (knee, 26 Jan), Richards (ankle, Feb)

Unavailable K Touré, Y Touré, Razak (all on Africa Cup of Nations duty)

Form guide WWWLWW

Disciplinary record Y35 R3

Leading scorer Dzeko 10

Fulham

Subs from Stockdale, Somogyi, Riise, Kasami, Briggs, Petric, Baird, Grimmer, Senderos, Dejagah, David, Rodallega

Doubtful Sidwell (hamstring), Ruiz (hamstring), Petric (calf)

Injured Etheridge (hamstring, Feb), Frei (pelvis, Feb), Diarra (knee, Feb), Davies (hip, Mar)

Suspended None Form guide DWLDLL

Disciplinary record Y22 R1

Leading scorer Berbatov 7

Match pointers

• This fixture is the most played in the Premier League (21 times) that has not seen a single player from either side sent off

• The past 18 meetings between these sides in all competitions have produced just one clean sheet (for City in their 3-0 win last season)

• Fulham are the only side whose substitutes have scored more goals this season (eight) than City's (seven)

• Of the 42 players to have scored 10 or more goals in the Premier League or Football League, Edin Dzeko has the best minutes-to-goals ratio (89 on average)

• Fulham have won none of their six matches against the Premier League's current top six this season