Fulham v Wolves: Premier League – live

Key events

Show key events only

Please turn on JavaScript to use this feature

Craven Cottage looks a picture. It’s a pretty sight on most occasions but under lights it shines up real nice. Fulham in their traditional whit with black shorts. The Wolves players are all wearing their dark grey jumpers but they’ll be in a sort of aquamarine blue.

The Sky pundits won’t stop mentioning that Fulham are in the top six, but it really is something, isn’t it? I don’t expect them to hold on, and I wonder what would be the minimum requirement from Fulham fans from here. Either way, they’ve been a treat. Even if they slip to 10th it would be some season.

Some gold here from Harriet Osborn in my inbox:

“Worth a mention that Lemina was part of the last Fulham prem squad, and caused much better teams a lot of bother. I (unfortunately) have a perfectly clear memory of the singular goal he scored for them...”

Consider it mentioned, Harriet.

You’ll see a lot of articles labelled ‘must read’ but please believe me when I say you must read this one.

Nik Ames and Larisa Kalik on the collision of sport and war with some harrowing anecdotes and brilliant reporting.

[Insert clever joke about Wolves howling at the moon here]

Fulham lead the league from set piece goals. That’s why Vinicus, all six feet lots of him, is starting up front. We’ll see how Wolves get on. Definitely one route for the home side.

Julen Lopetegui says he’s chuffed to bits to welcome Lemina back in the midfield. He’s confident of a win and promising to have a go. The former Real Madrid, Spain, Porto and Sevilla (not in that order) just oozes calm. No wonder Wolves look more solid in recent weeks.

Got time for a quick read? Sure you do. I recommend you sink your teeth in this one from Johnathan Liew about a certain goalkeeper looking for redemption this weekend. There’s no way he’ll have another howler in a final. I mean, that’d be ridiculous.

“Hi Daniel,” hi Phil Grey, also here to wish me luck?

“Just want to point out you’ve done a huge injustice to Leicester by mistakenly claiming they’ve only scored 17 goals. They’ve scored more goals than Fulham, for example. You’re thinking of Everton.”

Oh. Right you are. I clearly got cross-eyed when reading the league table. I did think that sounded low for Leicester. Thanks for the correction. It is in fact Everton, along with Wolves, who’ve struggled for goals.

There you go. As I as saying…

The Sky team now highlighting Willian and his ability to turn games with his pace and energy. He really is something. There were times he was the best in at Chelsea. He struggled, for whatever reason at Arsenal, but he’s clicking again. I reckon I’ll be mentioning his name throughout the night.

“Hi Daniel”, hey Simon Kirchin.

“Good luck on your debut. I hope it brings plenty of goals and three points for the mighty Wolves.”

Cheers pal. Looking forward to it.

Get a load of this. Fulham are third on the revised league table if we’re only counting games after the World Cup. Incredible run. They’re so settled. Everyone understands their role. Punching above their weight or simply an accurate reflection of how good they really are?

Football’s unrivalled in its ability to turn our gaze from the real world, if only momentarily. But let’s not forget what’s still happening, one year on, in Ukraine. Fulham’s Tim Ream certainly won’t.

Welcome aboard, mate. Glad to have you with me. Prematch chat from the Sky team points to some attacking football from Wolves. Fulham probably won’t mind that.

Neves now addressing Wolve’s imbalance. They’re struggling for goals, just 17, equal bottom with Leicester, but their defence has improved dramatically under Lopetegui. With those players, though, they’re due a big haul. Is tonight the night they turn it around?

Wolves’ skipper Ruben Neves says some nice about his new boss, Julen Lopetegui, things to Sky:

He’s a top level coach. He’s worked with the best footballers in the world. He knew ebverything about the club and helped us a lot to improve.

The difference is the intensity.

Some more serious matters before we get to the fun bits. Uefa are in trouble. Rightly so if you’ve been reading David Conn’s work. Here’s his latest on an ongoing saga and the fight for justice.

Wolves line-up

There are two changes for the visitors. Mario Lemina is back from suspension and slots into the midfield. Raul Jiminez leads from the front.

Just an aside, that is some bench. How are Wolves flirting with a relegation scrap?

Wolves: Sa, Semedo, Dawson, Kilman, Bueno, Lemina, Neves (c), Nunes, Sarabia, Cunha, Jiminez.

Subs: Bentley, Ait-Nouri, Collins, Jonny, Podence, Moutinho, Gomes, Costa, Traore.

Fulham team news

As expected, Carlos Vinícius starts up top. Surprised not to see Manor Solomon given a start. He’ll have to make do with a cameo off the bench.

Fulham: Leno, Tete, Ream (c), Diop, Robinson, Reed, de Cordova-Reid, Pereira, Willian, Palhinha, Vinicius

Subs: Rodak, Kursawa, Adarabioyo, Duffy, Soares, Wilson, James, Lukic, Solomon.

All eyes on Carlos Vinícius as Aleksandar Mitrovic is absent for Fulham as a consequence of his gammy hamstrings. Vinícius has shone off the bench and provides the home side with a bit of thrust and focus up front.

Scroll down to Jacob Steinberg’s round up (No 8. on the list) for more. And while you’re there, have a glance at the rest of the roundups for this weekend’s matches.

Preamble

Fulham v Wolves at Craven Cottage under Friday night lights. I don’t know why but this just screams goals. That of course could be a load of wishful thinking as these two don’t really do goal bonanzas. Their last tussle ended 0-0 in August and the three previous encounters were settled by 1-0 scores with the one before that finishing all square at 1-1. Still, we can hope for something different, can’t we?

Fulham - on a three game winning steak and unbeaten in their last five - will certainly be driving for a win. They’re up to sixth and could go equal on points with Newcastle above them if they add three more tonight.

Wolves - fresh from a 1-0 loss at home to Bournemouth but with memories of that 3-0 demolition of Liverpool a few weeks back - won’t want to slip-up. Defeat could see them drop down to 17th by the end of the weekend.

My name is Daniel. Great to be at the wheel for my Premier League debut on the MBM. Do drop a line if you fancy.

Kick-off at 8pm.