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2020-21 English Premier League
Matchday 11 of 38
Manchester City vs Fulham
Etihad Stadium
Manchester, England
Saturday, 05 December 2020
Kick-off is at 17:00 CAT
Both Manchester City and Fulham will be aiming to build on impressive wins in the 2020-21
English Premier League season when they meet in Manchester on Saturday.
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The Cityzens returned to winning ways with a 5-0 thumping of Burnley at Etihad Stadium, with Riyad Mahrez netting a hat-trick for the hosts. Despite the win, manager Pep Guardiola took little joy out of the result as City -- like all teams in the division -- continued to play without fans in attendance amid the Covid-19 pandemic.
It was the club's 29th consecutive game without supporters in the stadium and they are set to play behind closed doors until their visit to Southampton on 19 December, where there will only be 2,000 fans present at St Mary's Stadium.
City are only set to welcome a similar amount of fans to Etihad Stadium for their match versus Newcastle United on Boxing Day should the Greater Manchester area be dropped from Tier Three to Tier Two once the restrictions are reviewed in mid-December.
"Football was a joy when we played every three days in a routine, the players came here to the stadium and we had the spectators," Gaurdiola said.
"Now it is not a special day any more. What's next? Go here, go here, go here….Of course the players want to do it. It is incredible how they run but not with joy for the situation.
"It's like all the people and families around the world. You don't go to restaurants, you don't go out. Even journalists, you cannot go to the press conference and see your friends, you are at home working and it is different. Football is not an exception. We go, we play and that is all."
Fulham registered only their second win of the campaign to move out of the relegation zone, beating Leicester City 2-1 at King Power Stadium on the back of first-half goals from Ademola Lookman and Ivan Cavaleiro.
"Tonight coming away from Leicester, where every single person didn't think we would get the result.. we got one," said Fulham manager Scott Parker in the aftermath. "So of course you can build on that certainly on my position with the team. Results bring belief. They bring confidence."
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This will be the first Premier League meeting between the two clubs at Etihad Stadium since September 2018 when goals from Leroy Sane, David Silva and Raheem Sterling spearheaded the hosts to a 3-0 win.
Manchester City vs Fulham head-to-head statistics:
Matches played: 49
Manchester City wins: 28
Fulham wins: 10
Draws: 11
English Premier League fixtures, matchday 11:
Friday, 04 December
22:00 - Aston Villa vs Newcastle United
Saturday, 05 December
14:30 - Burnley vs Everton
17:00 - Manchester City vs Fulham
19:30 - West Ham United vs Manchester United
22:00 - Chelsea vs Leeds United
Sunday, 06 December
14:00 - West Brom vs Crystal Palace
16:15 - Sheffield United vs Leicester City
18:30 - Tottenham Hotspur vs Arsenal
21:15 - Liverpool vs Wolves
Monday, 07 December
22:00 - Brighton & Hove Albion vs Southampton
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