Fulham vs Watford Prediction, Lineups, Preview, and Team News | FA Cup, January 9, 2025

Preview

• Tournament: FA Cup
• Date: Thursday, Jan 9
• Kick-off Time: 07:45 pm GMT
• Venue: Craven Cottage, England

Watford will travel to Fulham for their third round of the 2024/25 FA Cup season at Craven Cottage. The Cottagers will aim to continue with their attacking prowess and move to the next round of the competition.

Hosts Fulham made their return to the Premier League last season and have made a remarkable start to their 2024/25 campaign. The arrival of Emile Smith Rowe this summer has brought a touch of creativity in the middle of the park. The Cottagers are expected to hold their ground and a win against the visitors would see them gain a spot in the next stage of the FA Cup.

Meanwhile, Watford would want to continue with their goalscoring threat in the final third but are not expected to come out on top as a narrow winner. It has been a mixed campaign so far for the Hornets who have dropped out of playoff spots.

Fulham Team News

Fulham squad will be without the services of Kenny Tete and Harrison Reed who are struggling with their knee injuries. Reiss Nelson is sidelined with his hamstring injury whereas Sander Berge is nearing a return but this game seems too soon for the defender.

Watford Team News

As for the visiting side, the likes of Tom Dele-Bashiru and Imran Louza will be out for this tie. Vakoun Issouf Bayo is expected to lead the line for Tom Cleverley’s side.

Fulham vs Watford Predicted Lineups

Fulham predicted lineup (3-4-3):

Goalkeeper: Leno

Defenders: Diop, Andersen, Bassey

Midfielders: Castagne, Pereira, Lukic, Robinson

Forwards: Wilson, Jimenez, Iwobi

Watford predicted lineup (4-3-3):

Goalkeeper: Bachmann

Defenders: Ngakia, Porteous, Pollock, Larouci

Midfielders: Ince, Kayembe, Sissoko

Forwards: Chakvetadze, Bayo, Baah

Head-to-Head Record

The two sides have faced off only 29 times in the past, with Fulham winning 10 of those games. Watford have also won 10 ties between both sides, whereas the remaining nine games ended in a draw.

Key Players to Watch in Fulham vs Watford

Raul Jiménez (Fulham)

The Mexican forward struggled for consistency last season but has appeared to rediscover his form in the 2024/25 campaign. Jimenez has bagged nine goals and two assists in 22 appearances across all competitions.

Vakoun Issouf Bayo (Watford)

Striker Vakoun Issouf Bayo is the leading goalscorer for Watford this season registering nine goals in 24 league appearances. He can be described as a passive presser who can shoulder off the last defender without any fear. Bayo’s stellar performances for the Hornets haven’t gone unnoticed who signed a four-year contract with the English club this summer.

Fulham vs Watford Prediction

Fulham have made a decent start to the season and are currently occupying the 9th place with 30 points after 20 games. The Cottagers have secured one victory alongside four draws in their last five games. They are coming off a 2-2 draw with Ipswich Town over the weekend and results have fluctuated despite their unbeaten in their last eight matches.

As for Watford, they have undergone a tumultuous period and lost their most recent game to Sheffield United in the Championship. They have dropped from the playoff spots but their quest for earning promotion to the Premier League still remains alive. Despite their recent slump, Watford are slight favorites in this matchup.

Predicted Score: Fulham 3-1 Watford

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