Two Premier League teams currently sitting in the top half of the table meet at Craven Cottage on Saturday, as Fulham play host to Newcastle United.
While the Cottagers are yet to lose after three games on home soil, the Magpies are still searching for their first away victory of the 2022-23 campaign.
After steering Fulham to the Championship title last season, Marco Silva will be delighted with the way that his side have settled back into life in the top flight as they have picked up 11 points from their opening seven matches, including all three against fellow newly-promoted side Nottingham Forest last time out.
Three goals within the space of just six second-half minutes helped the Cottagers come from behind to win 3-2 at the City Ground. While many may have predicted a Fulham victory, few would have expected Tosin Adarabioyo, Joao Palhinha and Harrison Reed to get their names on the scoresheet, with star striker Aleksandar Mitrovic drawing a blank for just the second time this season.
Sitting sixth in the Premier League table, above the likes of Chelsea and Liverpool, Fulham could climb into the top four with a victory over Newcastle, if Brighton & Hove Albion lose at Anfield and Manchester United fail to win in the Manchester derby.
Fulham have won three of their last five Premier League matches, as many as they achieved in their previous 30 games in the top flight combined, including two victories on home soil against fellow top-10 sides Brentford and Brighton.
The Cottagers have had plenty of success over the years against Newcastle, as they have won 12 Premier League fixtures against them – only against Bolton Wanderers have they won more in the competition.
Newcastle have established a reputation as draw specialists so far this season, with five already to their name after only seven matches.
Their latest result was a 1-1 draw at home to Eddie Howe’s former club Bournemouth, and the Magpies have now gone six league games without a win since their opening-day triumph at home to Nottingham Forest.
Howe will not be too concerned with his side’s current form, as they have done enough to sneak into the top half of the table, but with the club’s Saudi-backed owners having spent around £200m on new players since January, Newcastle fans will be keen to see signs of improvement in the coming weeks.
Newcastle will have fond memories of their recent visits to Craven Cottage, as they have won their last two games away at Fulham by an aggregate score of 6-0.
The Magpies have never won three consecutive away games in the league against Fulham, but success on Saturday would see them move above the Cottagers into sixth place on goal difference, if other results were also to go their way.
Fulham Premier League form:
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Fulham form (all competitions):
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Newcastle United Premier League form:
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We say: Fulham 2-1 Newcastle United
At least three goals have been scored in each of Fulham’s last five league fixtures and there could be plenty more goalmouth action in their encounter with Newcastle.
With the Magpies potentially missing a few key players this weekend, we feel that the hosts may edge this contest, with Mitrovic looking to score his first goal against his former club at the fourth time of asking.