History will be made on Saturday, with Rebecca Welch set to become the first woman to referee a Premier League match when she takes charge of Fulham against Burnley at Craven Cottage.

The hosts are currently 11th in the table, boasting 21 points from their opening 17 matches of the campaign, while Burnley are 19th, picking up eight points from their 17 league games in 2023-24.

Match preview

Fulham booked their spot in the semi-finals of the EFL Cup on Tuesday evening courtesy of a penalty-shootout victory over Everton following a 1-1 draw, and Marco Silva's side have now been paired with Liverpool in the final four, with the first leg of the semi-final at Anfield on January 8.

The London club will also be in FA Cup action early next month against Rotherham United, but their main focus will be on the Premier League, with fixtures against Burnley, Bournemouth and Arsenal to come before the end of the year.

Fulham recorded back-to-back 5-0 wins over Nottingham Forest and West Ham United in the league earlier this month, but they were beaten 3-0 by Newcastle United at St James' Park last weekend.

Silva's side sit 11th in the table, with a record of six wins, three draws and eight defeats seeing them collect 21 points, and they are only one point behind 10th-placed Chelsea.

Fulham have won five and lost three of their eight home league games this term, and they will be welcoming a Burnley outfit with one of the poorer away records in the division, having only managed to claim five points from their eight matches on their travels.

Burnley have actually enjoyed the better of the recent meetings between these two sides, winning three of their last four match-ups, including a 2-0 success at Craven Cottage in the league in May 2021.

Fulham's last win over the Clarets was a 4-2 victory in August 2018, but they have only beaten Burnley twice since September 2000, with Burnley proving to be tough opposition for the capital outfit.

Vincent Kompany's side have found it difficult in the Premier League this season, though, only picking up eight points from their opening 17 matches courtesy of a record of two wins, two draws and 13 defeats, which has left them down in 19th position in the table.

Burnley are currently six points behind 17th-placed Nottingham Forest, and they will enter this match off the back of a 2-0 home loss to Everton on Saturday.

The Clarets have an away league win to their name this season, beating Luton Town 2-1 at the start of October, but they have picked up just a point from their last five on their travels, and it does appear that it will be a big battle for the team to stay in the top division for 2024-25.

Team News

Fulham will again be missing Adama Traore due to a hamstring strain, while a calf problem is likely to mean that Tim Ream misses out.

The home side will also be without the services of Raul Jimenez, who received a straight red card in the 22nd minute of the three-goal loss to Newcastle last time out.

Rodrigo Muniz is likely to be given the nod in the final third of the field, while Willian, who was on the bench against Newcastle, faces a late fitness test on the problem that forced him off against Everton.

Kenny Tete's performance in the EFL Cup last time out could also mean that he features at right-back, while Alex Iwobi could drop into a deeper position for this match.

Burnley will be missing Luca Koleosho and Charlie Taylor for this match through injury, while Aaron Ramsey, Jack Cork and Johann Berg Gudmundsson will face late fitness tests.

Head coach Kompany is expected to resist the temptation to shuffle his pack following the defeat to Everton, but there could be a change in the final third, with Lyle Foster potentially coming in for Jay Rodriguez.

Cork, Ramsey and Gudmundsson will all be in contention to start if they are able to prove their fitness, but their availability at this stage of the team's preparations remains unclear.

Fulham possible starting lineup:
Leno; Tete, Adarabioyo, Diop, Robinson; Palhinha, Iwobi; Willian, Pereira, Wilson; Muniz

Burnley possible starting lineup:
Trafford; Vitinho, O'Shea, Beyer, Delcroix; Larsen, Berge, Brownhill, Odobert; Foster, Amdouni

We say: Fulham 2-1 Burnley

Burnley are certainly capable of making this an uncomfortable match for Fulham, and we are expecting the visitors to get their name on the scoresheet. Fulham have been strong at home in the league this season, though, and we are backing Silva's side to collect another three points here.

For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.

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