Fulham v Man City preview

Fulham still without a league win, Blues aim to maintain perfect start

Manchester City will aim to get back to winning ways as they visit Fulham on Sunday.

City's 100 per cent start to the new campaign came to a halt on Wednesday night when they were held 1-1 at home by Napoli.

Both clubs were making their UEFA Champions League debut and the long-suffering City fans had hoped the Blues would take their sparkling domestic form onto the top European stage.

The Italian outfit proved a much tougher nut to crack than City's Premier League opponents so far this season, but City remain optimistic they can reach the knock-out stage and stay in title contention.

City's star-studded squad have turned on the style in their opening four games, scoring 15 goals and conceding three to top the Premier League table with neighbours United.

Fulham were also in European action on Thursday night, hence the fixture being shifted to Sunday, and the Cottagers were held to a 1-1 draw at home against Dutch side FC Twente in the Europa League.

That means Martin Jol's men have drawn their last three home games, after previously being held by Aston Villa and last week Blackburn.

Having lost away to Newcastle and Wolves, Fulham have picked up just two points so far this season and go into Sunday's game third-bottom.

They will also be mindful of City's visit last November, when they led 3-0 after 35 minutes, ultimately winning 4-1 - and Roberto Mancini has since signed Edin Dzeko, Sergio Aguero and Samir Nasri, while playmaker David Silva has hit top form this season.

Team news

Fulham are expected to make changes after resting several players in midweek.

Bobby Zamora should return up front while new signing Bryan Ruiz is available again after being cup-tied against former club Twente, although Moussa Dembele and Andy Johnson are also in contention.

Defender Aaron Hughes was ruled out in midweek with a knock he suffered against Blackburn while midfielder Simon Davies (knee) is a long-term absentee.

Mancini could recall full-backs Micah Richards and Gael Clichy after Pablo Zabaleta and Aleksandar Kolarov were surprisingly brought in against Napoli, with limited success.

The Blues boss has many attacking options but could stick with his regulars for another game before resting them and keeping his fringe players happy by making widescale changes against Birmingham next week.

Defender Kolo Toure is yet to appear since the end of his drugs ban but should return in Wednesday's Carling Cup tie rather than at Fulham.

James Milner has been ruled out after a clash of heads in last week's 3-0 win over Wigan while fellow midfielder Nigel de Jong (foot) remains out.

Possible starting XIs:

Fulham: Schwarzer, Baird, Hangeland, Senderos, Riise, Duff, Sidwell, Murphy, Dempsey, Dembele, Zamora.

Man City: Hart, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy, Barry, Y Toure, Nasri, Silva, Aguero, Dzeko.