Fulham vs Sunderland - Betting Tips & Predictions.

Craven Cottage 22 November - 15:00

Fulham

Sunderland

Recommended tip Win for Sunderland

1: 2.10 X: 3.15 2: 3.70

1: 2.10 X: 3.10 2: 3.70

1: 2.10 X: 3.25 2: 3.75

#AD, 18+ T&C apply!

Right then — Saturday throws up a proper little cracker as Fulham welcome Sunderland to Craven Cottage. This isn’t just another tick-box fixture; it’s a collision of form and identity. Fulham’s season has been a wobble so far, scraping most of their points at home while Sunderland have roared up the table and will fancy themselves after a barnstorming draw with Arsenal. Expect atmosphere, talking points and a few tactical chess moves from both benches.

Form and narrative matter here. The hosts are rooted to the lower reaches, collecting 11 points — 10 of which arrived at home — and their defensive record is worrying: two clean sheets in 20 league games says it all. Meanwhile, the visitors sit comfortably in the top end, riding a wave of confidence and goals. There’s rivalry in styles rather than history; one side feeds on structure, the other on momentum. Those are the ingredients for an entertaining afternoon.

Punters will be sniffing out value, so this preview mixes the smugness of a pundit with practical Tips you can use. We’ll dissect the odds, the H2H and the likely line-ups, and serve up clear predictions while having a bit of banter about who might nick it. If you’re shopping for markets, check out our list of football betting sites to get started.

Call it local pride versus a club on the rise — either way, both teams have clear strengths and gullible defensive moments. On paper this looks tight, but the match narrative screams goals. Read on for the full odds analysis, predictions and head to head detail.

Odds and Predictions

The bookmakers currently give Fulham the edge at around 11/10 (2.1) with the draw priced roughly 9/4 (3.25) and Sunderland about 13/5 (3.6) — the usual marginal spread that tells you the layers expect a close contest. Those odds suggest a near 48% implied chance for the hosts, which feels generous given their form; odds are as much about public sentiment as they are about form figures.

From a punting perspective, the numbers hint at two likely outcomes: a narrow Fulham win or a Sunderland victory on the counter. Our predictions lean towards a Sunderland success — mainly because their recent attacking numbers are improving and Fulham’s defence looks brittle. Still, the odds imply a draw is comfortably possible, so there’s scope for each-way thinking.

For anyone looking at fun markets, Both Teams to Score looks appealing — the Hot tip for this clash — given Fulham’s defensive fragility and Sunderland’s goal flow. Correct score? We’ll go for 1-2 to Sunderland: tidy, plausible and profitable if you like a bit of value. Remember to shop around the odds — the market moves — and keep stakes sensible.

Comparison and Statistics

On paper, recent H2H (head to head) history favours the Cottagers — Fulham haven’t lost to Sunderland in three meetings, winning twice, albeit by narrow margins. The clubs haven’t met since 2023, so historical trends are mild guidance at best. H2H is useful, but form and personnel are far more telling here.

Look at form tables and you’ll see Sunderland have scored seven goals in their last four league matches — as many as they managed in their first seven. That momentum matters. Fulham, by contrast, have kept only two clean sheets in their last 20 league games; that’s a glaring stat for any neutral who loves goals. Expect chances at both ends.

Digging a little deeper, Fulham’s home profile shows they’ve earned 10 of their 11 points at Craven Cottage — a fortress in parts — which explains why the bookies nudge them as favourites. Sunderland’s defensive work is improving thanks to key arrivals and tactical tweaks; Mukiele’s defensive numbers stand out, and that kind of edge can decide tight games.

In short: head to head gives Fulham a sliver of psychological advantage, but recent momentum and goal-scoring form point towards a high-probability BTTS scenario and an away win by the slimmest of margins.

Expected Line-ups

Both managers will pick with intent. For Fulham expect a back four and a double pivot—Marco Silva may shuffle after Sasa Lukic’s suspension, pushing Alex Iwobi into a deeper role alongside Sander Berge. The predicted XI reads with Leno in goal and a front line mixing Wilson, King and Jimenez — though rotation is always a risk.

Fulham predicted lineup: Leno (GK), Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Sessegnon, Iwobi, Berge, Wilson, King, Kevin and Jimenez. Note Lukic is suspended and that could alter midfield balance; Silva might pick someone more conservative to shore up the spine.

Sunderland will probably stick to the compact, pressing shape that’s brought them success. Regis Le Bris looks set to field a solid back line with Mukiele central to the plan, Xhaka pulling strings and Isidor/Traore providing the thrust up front. Their likely XI reflects a side built to hurt teams on the break while staying disciplined.

Sunderland predicted lineup: Roefs (GK), Hume, Mukiele, Ballard, Geertruida, Reinildo, Xhaka, Sadiki, Traore, Isidor and Le Fee. Keep an eye on any late injury news — a forced tweak at full-back could swing tactical set-ups drastically.

How Will the Season Pan Out

This match has implications beyond the three points. For Fulham it’s a chance to arrest a slide and prove Craven Cottage remains a base to build from. Lose this and the rhetoric about a relegation scrap gets louder; win and they breathe easier. Silva’s home record this season suggests he knows how to get wins at the Cottage — but defensive frailties must be fixed.

For Sunderland, domestic consolidation is the narrative. Sitting fourth and with 19 points, they look like a team keen to cement a top-half finish — European places are aspirational, perhaps unrealistic, but their trajectory is upward. A win in London would underline that momentum and mark them as genuine season disruptors.

Looking long-term, this fixture could be a season marker rather than a make-or-break. Both teams will pick up points elsewhere, but confidence is contagious: a gritty away win for Sunderland could kickstart a real push; a home recovery for Fulham could steady a wobbling campaign.

Final verdict: our tip is a narrow away win — but expect goals and time your bets. The smart play is a Sunderland victory with Both Teams to Score as a complementary bet for value.

Written by:

Mark Brown

Chief Statistician

Bio:

Football bores me to tears! I’m not interested in the Rooney’s and Ronaldo’s of the world, but I am interested in betting. With that in mind, I spend hours trawling through the statistics of the football markets and can usually come up with an angle which presents a viable betting opportunity.

Key contributions:

Chief statistician or Stato, as my colleagues like to call me

Personnel betting philosophy or quotes:

“Risk wisely, gain greatly”