Premier League 2025-2026: Fulham-Bournemouth, the likely lineups
The Premier League is preparing to treat itself to a weighty Saturday for all the goals still up for grabs in the top flight. In fact, the day’s matches, valid for the 36th round of the league, award very heavy points both for the award of the title and for the race for Europe. Very interesting from this point of view is the 4 p.m. challenge between Fulham, which is still dreaming of a cup berth, and Bournemouth, which has the longest unbeaten streak of the main five continental leagues underway.
Fulham comes to this fixture with European ambitions still alive, but with a margin of error reduced to a minimum. Marco Silva’s Cottagers have shown during the course of the season a certain solidity of personnel, as witnessed also by the challenge played just a week ago against Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, valid for the 35th round: on that occasion Fulham showed up with essentially the same eleven expected today, confirming Silva’s confidence in his starters. In the standings, the Londoners are in close contact with the European zone, with very few points separating them from sixth and seventh place.
On the other hand, Andoni Iraola’s Bournemouth comes to this match on the strength of a streak of consecutive useful results that is unmatched in the major European leagues. The Cherries have already shown that they can beat top teams, as evidenced by their successes against Newcastle and Arsenal in previous weeks, results that had already confirmed the solidity of the Dorset team. A continuity of performance that has transformed what looked like a team without goals into one of the most surprising realities in the entire Premier League.
The form chosen by Iraola does not change: the tried-and-true 4-2-3-1 that has accompanied Bournemouth all season, with Petrovic between the posts, the central pair Hill-Senesi and Truffert and Jimenez on the flanks. In midfield, Scott and Adams will form the usual screen in front of the defense, while in the three-quarter Rayan, Kroupi and Tavernier will act in support of the lone forward Evanilson. A formation virtually identical to the one seen in the last season’s outings, a sign of how Iraola has found a balance that is difficult to unhinge.
Fulham also responds with its trademark 4-2-3-1. Marco Silva relies on the usual Andersen-Bassey central pair, with Tete and Sessegnon on the side lanes. Berge and Lukic will act in the middle of the field, while the three-quarter will rely on the quality of Wilson, Smith-Rowe and Chukwueze. Up front, Jimenez will lead the Cottagers’ attack, confirming himself as the main offensive reference of the London team, as already seen in the last seasonal outings.
It is worth underlining how Iraola’s name has also been circulating insistently outside of England in recent weeks: the Basque coach has been approached to the Fiorentina bench as one of the profiles screened by the purple management for next season, proving how much his work with Bournemouth has attracted the attention of ambitious clubs at the European level. A recognition that further testifies to the growth of the coach and his team this season.
Probable Formations
Fulham (4-2-3-1): Leno; Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Sessegnon; Berge, Lukic; Wilson, Smith-Rowe, Chukwueze; Jimenez. Coach: Marco Silva.
Bournemouth (4-2-3-1): Petrovic; Jimenez, Hill, Senesi, Truffert; Scott, Adams; Rayan, Kroupi, Tavernier; Evanilson. Coach: Iraola.
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