Midweek soccer is back, and for Manchester City, they need to maintain their winning streak to challenge the league leaders, Arsenal, in their upcoming match. City finds themselves six points behind the Gunners, but after Sunday’s comeback victory against Liverpool, the mood has lifted, especially since star striker Erling Haaland snapped a goal-drought with a goal and an assist. Against a spirited Fulham side set to visit the Etihad, City must tighten their defense to avoid a repeat of their previous match, which was a wild 5-4 victory where they almost squandered a four-goal lead.
How to watch Manchester City vs. Fulham
- Date: Wednesday, Feb. 11
- Time: 2:30 p.m. ET
- Location: Etihad Stadium – Manchester, England
- Live stream: Peacock
- Odds: Manchester City -300; Draw +450; Fulham +700
In the previous meeting at Craven Cottage, nine goals were scored as City narrowly secured all three points, with Phil Foden and Samuel Chukwueze each netting braces in a game devoid of defensive organization.
As City adjusts their back line with Marc Guehi joining the squad, Ruben Dias is expected to return from injury, which will result in Guardiola solidifying what seems to be his first-choice pairing in the central defense for the foreseeable future.
Young defender Abdukodir Khusanov has filled in frequently due to injuries affecting Josko Gvardiol, John Stones, and Nathan Ake. With players gradually returning to fitness, City is not out of the title race yet, but Guardiola acknowledges that dropping points will jeopardize their chances. He emphasizes the need for consistency and urges his squad to understand why their performances dip in second halves.
“What I am saying is what we have to do to beat Fulham, what we must improve on to replicate the quality we showed in the first half at Anfield and not in the second. What is causing our performance to drop in the second half?” - Pep Guardiola
Get ready for the Knockout Stage like never before with the UEFA Champions League Bracket Games! Create a pool to compete among friends, or enter our Bracket Challenge for a chance to win a dream trip to London, including two UCL tickets and a tour of the UCL Today set! Plus, see how you compare against UCL Today’s own Jamie and Micah. Sign up now before brackets are unlocked after the Round of 16 Draw, or play on the CBS Sports App!
