Fulham vs Tottenham Hotspur: Team news and Premier League preview

Tottenham Hotspur face Fulham away on Sunday afternoon in the 29th week of the Premier League, hoping to win three away games in a row for the first time since 2020.

Spurs take a trip to West London just three days after defeating AZ Alkmaar 3-1 in the Europa League, as they prepare to face 10th-placed Fulham at Craven Cottage for one final match before the international break.

That was the kind of football Ange Postecoglou has been demanding from his side and while the Premier League may no longer be Spurs fans’ top priority, there’s finally some genuine excitement around watching them again.

What time does Fulham vs Tottenham Hotspur kick-off?

• Location: London, England
• Stadium: Craven Cottage
• Date: Sunday 16th March 2025
• Kick-off Time: 1:30 pm BST
• Referee: Andy Madley
• VAR: Paul Tierney

How both teams go into Fulham vs Tottenham Hotspur

Tottenham head into this clash off the back of a 3-1 win over AZ Alkmaar on Thursday night, overturning a first-leg deficit to book their place in the Europa League quarter-finals. Thanks to a brace from the debutant Wilson Odobert and one from James Maddison.

Before that, Spurs managed to rescue a 2-2 draw against Bournemouth, coming from two goals down. In their last five league outings, they have picked up three wins, one draw, and one defeat. The Lilywhites have also conceded only four goals, though two of those came in the Bournemouth match alone.

Fulham, meanwhile, sit 10th in the table, eight points ahead of Spurs. Marco Silva’s side have had an impressive season and remain in the hunt for a European finish. However, if there’s one team that rivals Spurs in squandering leads, it’s Fulham.

They arrive at this fixture following a 2-1 defeat to Brighton, where they let a one-goal advantage slip in stoppage time, courtesy of a late Joao Pedro penalty.

Just before that, they stunned Manchester United in the FA Cup, somehow throwing away a lead again before winning on penalties, thanks to Bernd Leno heroics. Spurs fans will have flashbacks to last season’s Carabao Cup clash against them where they too exited in similar fashion. Regardless, Fulham could be dark horses for FA Cup glory this year.

Spurs’ head-to-head record vs Fulham

The last time these two sides met, Spurs were sixth and Fulham ninth. Fast forward a few months, and while the hosts have maintained their position, Spurs have slipped further down the table.

In that clash, Spurs were the ones to throw away a lead, conceding an equaliser less than 15 minutes after going ahead. The debate over which team is worse at holding onto an advantage just got a whole lot more interesting.

Craven Cottage hasn’t been a happy hunting ground for Spurs in recent visits. Their 3-0 defeat there last season, which also came just before an international break, was arguably their worst performance of the campaign. That loss also saw Postecoglou’s side’s record-breaking 39-game scoring streak in the Premier League come to an end.

That being said, history still favours Spurs. Fulham are unbeaten in their last two league meetings with Tottenham. However, prior to that, they had lost 14 of their previous 16 against Spurs. (one win, one draw).

Tottenham team news

It’s hard for a Tottenham game to go by without someone suffering an injury. That’s been the story of their season. Against Alkmaar, it was Lucas Bergvall’s turn.

The Swedish teenager left the pitch late on after seemingly suffering an injury to his leg. However, he was able to walk off and even completed a lap around the pitch. While that may suggest it might just be a knock, we’ll wait for any updates from Postecoglou’s press conference later today.

On a positive note, Micky van de Ven and Cristian Romero, thankfully, came through the match uninjured. Ben Davies also returned to the pitch for the first time since mid-February.

As things stand, the only confirmed absentees remain Dejan Kulusevski, Kevin Danso, Radu Dragusin, and Richarlison.

Fulham team news

Sasa Lukic will miss this game as result of his two-match suspension following a yellow card against Wolves last month.

In terms of injuries, Reiss Nelson, Kenny Tete, and Harry Wilson are all ruled out while Adama Traore is a doubt.

Predicted Tottenham line-up

Vicario; Porro, Van de Ven, Romero, Spence; Bentancur, Gray, Maddison; Odobert, Tel, Werner

Postecoglou has already confirmed that he’ll be making changes to the lineup that started against AZ Alkmaar on Thursday, given the short turnaround. That explains why our predicted lineup may appear odd to some.

Djed Spence and James Maddison might have missed out on England call-ups, but that could work in Spurs’ favour; Postecoglou could push them for one last start before the break. Destiny Udogie is another option, having played just five minutes across the last two games.

Van de Ven and Romero started together for the first time this year against Alkmaar, and while they were on the pitch, Spurs barely looked threatened. Alkmaar’s only goal came after Van de Ven was substituted, and that pretty much says everything. They could start together once again.

With Dominic Solanke called up for England duty, Mathys Tel is expected to lead the line once again. Meanwhile, Heung-min Son has played a lot of football recently, so Timo Werner may get the nod on the left. Son and Brennan Johnson could come on later in the game.

Key players to watch out for

Guglielmo Vicario. Since returning from his ankle injury, Vicario has started seven games for Spurs and has been outstanding. He has conceded just six goals in those matches, and without him, Spurs’ recent results could have looked very different. It’s about time the Italian shot-stopper gets the recognition he deserves.

Wilson Odobert. Fresh off a brace against AZ Alkmaar, Odobert is thriving with confidence. There’s now real competition for Brennan Johnson on the right wing, and FPL managers will want to keep an eye on him.

Antonee Robinson. Speaking of FPL, there’s hardly any backline without Robinson. The American full-back is enjoying a dream season, registering 10 goal involvements (all assists). For a full-back, an assist is often more valuable than a goal, and he has been one of Marco Silva’s biggest weapons.

Alex Iwobi. Iwobi has been in fantastic form, providing an assist in his latest outing. The winger frequently drifts into different areas of the pitch, and with a dribbling success rate of 53.5%, Djed Spence will have his hands full trying to contain him.

Archie Gray (Potential Surprise). We would have loved to include Lucas Bergvall in this list, but he is likely to be rested. However, for that reason, this could finally be the moment Archie Gray kicks the ball in his natural No. 6 role. Never stop dreaming, Spurs fans!

Our prediction

Spurs have been stuck in the bottom half of the table for months now, and the harsh reality is that their chances of securing a European finish through the league are virtually nonexistent.

However, the Europa League lifeline remains. Winning the competition would guarantee them a Champions League spot next season, regardless of their domestic struggles.

A win here won’t change their league position. They will stay 13th, but a defeat, combined with victories for West Ham or Everton and Manchester United, could see them slip as low as 15th. In short, this is a game of ‘damage control’.

If there’s one thing worse than Spurs’ record before international breaks, it’s Fulham’s home form. The Cottagers have won just one of their last seven home league matches. They have also managed just one clean sheet in their last 18 Premier League games at Craven Cottage and that came against Southampton.

Given Fulham’s shaky home form and Spurs’ reignited confidence, we’re backing Postecoglou’s men to get the job done.

Predicted score: Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 Fulham

The post Fulham vs Tottenham Hotspur: Team news and Premier League preview appeared first on Spurs Web.