Follow live coverage as Fulham face Southampton today in the Premier League. Another top-flight season will be covered in full right here with The Independent, as reigning champions Manchester City look to make it an unprecedented five titles in a row come the end of 2024/25.
The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be chasing Pep Guardiola's side, but just as fascinating will be the race for Champions League places, with more teams than ever before having designs on top-four finishes. Chelsea remain big-spending, Manchester United's latest rebuild continues and both Tottenham and Newcastle will expect improvements this year - yet it was Aston Villa who snared fourth last term.
Meanwhile, it's Southampton, Leicester City and Ipswich Town who made it back to the elite after promotion last year and each will have hope they can make it more than a one-year stay. Follow the latest live action from the Premier League below:
Fulham FC 0 - 0 Southampton FC
Fulham vs Southampton
16:03Like the weather today, a rather dull contest sees Fulham failing to score for the first time in 16 Premier League this season. Meanwhile, Southampton, in their final game before new manager Juric takes over, earn only their second point on the road all season. Fulham created chance after chance but lacked the desired conviction in the final third. They were unlucky with quite a few attempts just about missing the target, and they also forced some saves out of Ramsdale, who was impressive in his first game since recovering from a finger injury. Wilson's attempt from right in front of goal off Traore's cross in the second half, which was saved by Ramsdale, was perhaps the best chance of the match. Fulham had 16 shots (five on target) throughout the game, while the Saints, who were impressive defensively, managed only five shots on goal. The Cottagers ended the game with an xG of 1.04 to Southampton's 0.26.
Fulham vs Southampton
15:57FULL-TIME: FULHAM 0-0 SOUTHAMPTON
Fulham vs Southampton
15:57Walker-Peters wants a penalty after a challenge from Castagne, but only wins a corner. There wasn't much in that for a penalty. Fulham clear the danger just before Ugochukwu could get his head to the corner-kick and the hosts survive again.
Fulham vs Southampton
15:55Southampton win a late corner! Robinson leaps high to block the first corner-kick, but the Saints win another down the left. The second one is much better and delivered into the danger area, but Leno does well to read the delivery and collects the ball with ease before sending Fulham ahead on the counter.
Fulham vs Southampton
15:53Lukic is in some discomfort for what seems like to be a shoulder injury and play is halted for a bit. Meanwhile, Juric wears a slightly frustrated look from the stands.
Fulham vs Southampton
15:52Fulham waste another corner as Walker-Peters clears it away and sends it long into the Southampton box.
Fulham vs Southampton
15:50Substitution Adam James Armstrong Ebere Paul Onuachu
Fulham vs Southampton
15:50Fulham win a corner down the right! Traore delivers another loopy cross into the box, which actually came off Walker-Peters on the edge of the box before Ramsdale jumps high and comfortably collects the ball.
Fulham vs Southampton
15:48Traore comes close! Firstly, he did very well to use his pace and strength to venture into the box. He then hits a low shot which just about misses the far post from the left edge of the area. Ramsdale was at full stretch there but couldn't have done much if that ball was on target.
Fulham vs Southampton
15:47Substitution Harry Wilson Carlos Vinícius Alves Morais
Fulham vs Southampton
15:45Fernandes delivers a dangerous-looking ball into the box from the right that could have fallen to anyone, but Bassey did well to get to it first and clear it away.
Fulham vs Southampton
15:45Yellow Card Lesley Chimuanya Ugochukwu
Fulham vs Southampton
15:43Robinson has created 20 chances from open play in the Premier League this season - the joint-most by any defender (level with Tyrick Mitchell). Meanwhile, play is halted for another head injury to Fernandes, but thankfully he is okay. This came just after Ramsdale was forced into another diving save off a low effort from Iwobi from distance.
Fulham vs Southampton
15:40Jimenez is booked for a tackle from behind on Ugochukwu. That was a poor challenge as he was not even close to the ball when he made contact with Ugochukwu.
Fulham vs Southampton
15:40Substitution Yukinari Sugawara James Patrick Bree
Fulham vs Southampton
15:40Silva is frustrated on the Fulham bench and he is ranting away at one of his assistants. Fulham have had 13 shots on goal tonight, three of those being on target, and have also had 58% possession so far in this game.
Fulham vs Southampton
15:35There is another stoppage in play as Castagne gets treatment for a head injury.
Fulham vs Southampton
15:35Substitution Thomas Cairney Becket Fabrice-Martial Godo
Fulham vs Southampton
15:35Substitution Sander Gard Bolin Berge Saša Lukić
Fulham vs Southampton
15:32Southampton appeal for a corner after Berge and Ugochukwu collide on the left inside the box before the ball goes out. Berge is down and is in a lot of pain as the medics rush out to take a look at his injury. This does not look good for the Fulham player.
Fulham vs Southampton
15:29SAVE! Off a second corner, Traore delivers a brilliant cross from the right flank into the danger area. It falls to Wilson, whose first-time shot from a couple of yards out is blocked by Ramsdale, who shows great reflexes to stretch high.
Fulham vs Southampton
15:27Jimenez does well to use his pace and strength to get to the edge of the box, before his attempt is blocked and goes behind for a Fulham corner.
Fulham vs Southampton
15:25Traore's pace already troubles the Saints! Traore gets forward to the right byline and then delivers a high cross towards Iwobi to head towards goal, but Iwobi's effort from close-range is not very powerful and is collected easily by Ramsdale.
Fulham vs Southampton
15:22Fulham make their first change of the game as Jimenez comes on for Muniz.
Fulham vs Southampton
15:22Corner for Southampton! Sugawara gets to the edge of the box from the right flank but his attempted cross is blocked behind for a corner. Fulham make a crucial block from the resulting corner as Sugawara's attempt was heading towards goal if not for that good piece of defending.
Fulham vs Southampton
15:22Substitution Joshua David Steven King Adama Traoré Diarra
Fulham vs Southampton
15:20Another Robinson cross from the left finds its way towards the centre of the box, but Bednarek is there yet again to quickly snuff out of the danger and clear the threat. Bednarek has been very good today and has made a massive contribution in Southampton still being on level terms in this game.
Fulham vs Southampton
15:18Southampton register their first shot on target. They launch a counter-attack and send Armstrong through. He takes a swipe at it with a low effort that is well hit, but it goes straight to Leno, who did not have to work hard to make that save.
Fulham vs Southampton
15:17Substitution Joseph Oluwaseyi Temitope Ayodele-Aribo Lesley Chimuanya Ugochukwu
Fulham vs Southampton
15:15Ramsdale forced to make another save! Robinson delivers a loopy ball from the left and Ramsdale does well to get his fingertips to the cross heading towards the top corner. The Southampton defence and alert to it and clear their lines quickly before a Fulham player could get to the ball.
Fulham vs Southampton
15:12Southampton have started this half looking decent in defence once again, adding to Fulham's frustrations. However, each time they look to break on the counter, Fulham are very quick to win the ball and build from the back.
Fulham vs Southampton
15:11Castagne cuts it back for Muniz, who was waiting in the six-yard area, but Bednarek does well to make a sliding tackle and block Muniz's shot. The defender felt some discomfort after that tackle as he collided with Muniz, but thankfully for the Saints he is up and running again.
Fulham vs Southampton
15:08Another Robinson cross from the left directed towards the far post falls in no man's land. However, Muniz does well to keep it in play, but Southampton push Fulham back.
Fulham vs Southampton
15:08Yellow Card Yukinari Sugawara
Fulham vs Southampton
15:06We are back underway at Craven Cottage as Fulham get things going in the second half. There is just the solitary half-time substitution from Southampton! Meanwhile, Fulham manager Silva is seen in deep discussion with his staff.
Fulham vs Southampton
15:05Substitution Tyler-Jay Robert Dibling Cameron Desmond Archer
Fulham vs Southampton
15:00Fulham led the expected goals (xG) stats in the first half, with 0.26 to Southampton's 0.11. The hosts also had as many as eight shots on goal (only one on target), to just the one shot attempted from the Saints. After Fulham dominated possession in the first 15-20 minutes, Southampton did better as the half progressed.
Fulham vs Southampton
14:54That was not a first half for either team to be quite thrilled about, but Southampton will certainly be the happier side going into half-time with the score still on level terms. Fulham were undoubtedly the better side when attacking, creating a good number of chances, including forcing Ramsdale into a couple of saves very early in the contest. However, Silva's side lacked conviction in the final third. Iwobi, who has been in good form for Fulham this season, had a couple of shots from distance just missing the target. So did Wilson. However, the Cottagers were unable to really involve Muniz as Southampton did well to keep him quiet.
Fulham vs Southampton
14:49HALF-TIME: FULHAM 0-0 SOUTHAMPTON
Fulham vs Southampton
14:48Two minutes of stoppage time will conclude the first half. Armstrong attempts to go clear on goal down the left, but he is comfortably offside. Muniz is almost through at the other end, but Bednarek does well to make the tackle and clear the ball away.
Fulham vs Southampton
14:47The rain is really pelting down now at Craven Cottage. Bassey makes light work of Dibling down the Southampton right flank and wins the ball back easily for Fulham. The Cottagers would be frustrated to see the score still at 0-0 with only a minute and stoppage time to go.
Fulham vs Southampton
14:44We're quickly approaching half-time now and Southampton would be the happier side to still be level in this game despite the attacking threat displayed by Fulham so far.
Fulham vs Southampton
14:43Iwobi has been involved in eight goals for Fulham in the Premier League this season (5 goals, 3 assists). It’s already his joint-best scoring season in the competition. He has had a couple of sighters already today.
Fulham vs Southampton
14:40More attacking threat from Fulham, but again the Saints do well to clear the danger. Soon after, Iwobi wins the ball on the edge of the area and swipes at another one from there. The result is similar as the previous shot he took as the ball misses the target, with ease on this occasion.
Fulham vs Southampton
14:36Yellow Card Flynn Downes
Fulham vs Southampton
14:36Much better from Iwobi as his curling effort is just wide of the target. He receives a pass from Robinson on the left edge of the box and delivers a shot towards the top-right corner, only for it to evade a diving Ramsdale and the target. Another effort that was quite close though!
Fulham vs Southampton
14:34Fulham have had six shots on the Southampton goal so far, while the visitors have managed just the solitary attempt on the Fulham goal. However, both teams have made 15 final third entries. Fulham have created many more chances, but Southampton do not look quite rattled at the moment.
Fulham vs Southampton
14:31Another Wilson shot is not very far from the target as his long-range effort this time misses the bar by inches. He is all over the Southampton defence at the moment and the Saints need to do better to keep him at bay.
Fulham vs Southampton
14:29Very good control from Wilson, but his shot just misses the target. Another Robinson cross is cleared but it falls to Wilson on the edge of the area, but Wilson's first-time volley is just over the bar. Lovely play from the Welshman.
Fulham vs Southampton
14:27Robinson is clear down the left flank but he fails to pick out any of his Fulham teammates in the six-yard area. Robinson hasn't been at this best down the left so far, having already wasted a couple of crosses with a host of white shirts waiting for a delivery from him inside the box.
Fulham vs Southampton
14:24Southampton's move down the right flank is wasted as Fernandes is unable to reach a poor through ball and the ball goes out for a Fulham goal kick. Southampton win the ball back quickly but once again give away possession cheaply.
Fulham vs Southampton
14:22New Southampton manager Juric is watching keenly from the stands. His side have made more final third entries (10) than Fulham's seven so far, but have seriously lacked any kind of threat in the final third apart from that corner they won a few minutes ago.
Fulham vs Southampton
14:19No team have scored the first goal in more different Premier League games this season than Fulham (12), while no team has conceded the opening goal more often than Southampton (12). The Cottagers are looking like favourites again to open the scoring, given how this game has gone so far.
Fulham vs Southampton
14:18Wilson delivers another cross into the box from the right, but this one is much weaker. However, Fulham win the ball back quickly and make a move down the left this time, as a curling delivery from the left flank evades Muniz, who was making a rapid run inside the box.
Fulham vs Southampton
14:17Whatever the result in this game, Southampton will be bottom of the top-flight table at Christmas for the first time in their history. Meanwhile, Fulham are in full control of proceedings at the moment.
Fulham vs Southampton
14:14Fulham break down the right flank as Muniz collects a ball from Wilson in the box, but his cut back towards the middle of the box is not good enough and Southampton make a scrambling clearance. A very good start this from the Cottagers.
Fulham vs Southampton
14:11Ramsdale is forced into action again as he punches away a dangerous ball delivered from the left flank at his near post. Good work from Fulham and Ramsdale's injured finger is being tested quite a bit already.
Fulham vs Southampton
14:09Southampton do well on the break and earn their first corner as Armstrong's shot from the centre of the box is blocked by one of the Fulham defenders. The resulting corner, delivered in the danger area, was better than the one Fulham took a couple of minutes ago, but the hosts do well to clear the danger.
Fulham vs Southampton
14:06Corner for Fulham! That was close! Ramsdale is required to make an early save as Iwobi delivers a curler from the left edge of the area, forcing the keeper to dive to his left and get his fingertips to the ball to make the save. Nothing comes from the resulting corner though as Southampton clear quite easily.
Fulham vs Southampton
14:04Fulham are heavy favourites to win this match with Opta's Live Win Probability model showing a 56.3% probability of a win for the hosts and only 21.5% for Southampton. The Saints, in their pink and white kit today, have been in better control of the ball in the opening couple of minutes and are even pressing quite high.
Fulham vs Southampton
14:01KICK-OFF! We are underway in this clash at Craven Cottage as visitors Southampton get the ball rolling. The last contest between these two sides was a Premier League fixture in May 2023, with Fulham winning 2-0 at St. Mary’s Stadium. The Cottagers are aiming to win three successive league games against Southampton for the first time.
Fulham vs Southampton
13:56The teams are making their way out to the pitch, the managers and players are ready, and so are the fans who have turned up in huge numbers! Fulham did the Premier League double over Southampton in 2022-23, which was the last time these two sides faced each other, having won just one of their previous nine fixtures against the Saints (D4 L4).
Fulham vs Southampton
13:56Interim Southampton boss Simon Rusk has made four changes to his side that lost 1-2 to Liverpool in the Carabao Cup in midweek. Ramsdale returns in goal after recovering from a finger injury. Walker-Peters, Sugawara and Armstrong also come back into the starting XI, replacing Manning, Downes, and Archer.
Fulham vs Southampton
13:51Silva has made five changes to his Fulham side that started in the 2-2 draw with Liverpool last weekend. Skipper Cairney is back from suspension and Lukic drops to the bench. Bassey and Castagne return in the back four, replacing Cuenca and Tete. In attack, King and Muniz are back in place of Pereira (suspension) and Jimenez.
Fulham vs Southampton
13:51SOUTHAMPTON SUBS: Alex McCarthy, Ryan Manning, Adam Lallana, James Bree, Cameron Archer, Kamaldeen Sulemana, Ryan Fraser, Lesley Ugochukwu, Paul Onuachu.
Fulham vs Southampton
13:51SOUTHAMPTON (3-4-2-1): Aaron Ramsdale; Nathan Wood, Jan Bednarek, Taylor Harwood-Bellis; Kyle Walker-Peters, Flynn Downes, Joe Aribo, Yukinari Sugawara; Mateus Fernandes, Tyler Dibling; Adam Armstrong.
Fulham vs Southampton
13:46FULHAM SUBS: Joachim Andersen, Raul Jimenez, Adama Traore, Carlos Vinicius; Jorge Cuenca, Sasa Lukic, Steven Benda, Ryan Sessegnon, Martial Godo.
Fulham vs Southampton
13:46FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Bernd Leno; Antonee Robinson, Calvin Bassey, Issa Diop, Timothy Castagne; Tom Cairney, Sander Berge; Harry Wilson, Josh King, Alex Iwobi; Rodrigo Muniz.
Fulham vs Southampton
13:40Southampton confirmed the appointment of Croatian manager Ivan Juric as Russell Martin’s successor on the eve of this game. While Juric will not be in the dugout for this game, his players will be motivated to impress the new manager who will be watching keenly. The Saints, currently nine points from safety at the bottom of the Premier League table, were beaten by Liverpool in midweek in the Carabao Cup and have lost six of their last seven games. However, a much-improved showing in their first game since Martin’s sacking, under interim boss Simon Rusk, meant they put up a good fight in a 1-2 defeat against the highly in-form Liverpool. They will need to put in a similar performance and more at Craven Cottage this afternoon as the Saints have the lowest points tally on the road so far this season (one point) and have not won an away league game since February 2023. Full-back Kyle Walker-Peters should be fit despite suffering a knock before the Liverpool game, while James Bree, who was withdrawn during that game, is a doubt.
Fulham vs Southampton
13:35Marco Silva’s Fulham side goes into this game having won only one of their last five Premier League games. However, what’s hidden in that stat is that they have snatched points off Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, and leaders Liverpool during those five games. The eventful 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Anfield was Fulham’s latest game, during which they twice surrendered a one-goal advantage against a Liverpool side down to 10 men early in the contest. Fulham enter this game in 10th spot, but could end the gameweek as high as sixth; such is the competitive nature of the league table at the moment. While the Cottagers have kept just the solitary clean sheet in 10 games, no other team currently in the Premier League has scored in more consecutive games than Fulham’s 15. Kenny Tete, \who suffered an injury in the Liverpool game, has joined Harrison Reed and Reiss Nelson on the sidelines. While Tom Cairney and Calvin Bassey return after serving suspensions, Andreas Pereira will miss this game after picking up his fifth yellow card of the season.
Fulham vs Southampton
13:35Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the Premier League clash between Fulham and Southampton at Craven Cottage.
Fulham vs Southampton
12:00Follow all the goals and latest action from the Premier League here with The Independent. Team news and line-ups coming up shortly…
