Huddersfield will be attempting to claim their first league win of the season when they host fellow strugglers Fulham on Monday night.
The Terriers have taken just three points from their opening 10 games so far and are languishing at the bottom of the Premier League table.
Meanwhile, Fulham have had a similarly tough start to their first season back in the Premier League and are just one place and two points ahead of their Monday night hosts having won just a single league game themselves.
Read on for Huddersfield vs Fulham live stream options, team news, predicted XIs, stats and TV channel info.
When is Huddersfield vs Fulham?
Competition: Premier League
Venue: John Smith’s Stadium
Date: Monday, 5 November
Kick-off: 8 PM BST
Match preview
After a miraculous first campaign in the Premier League last time around, Huddersfield really seem to be struggling from the dreaded ‘second-season syndrome’.
David Wagner’s men are currently propping up the Premier League table, are yet to register a league win and have only managed four goals in their opening 10 games, the lowest tally in the division.
However, the German coach is expecting a reaction from his players and is backing the fans to create a high octane atmosphere at the John Smith’s stadium on Monday.
“We need to defend better than we did against Watford and attack like we have done in the past,” he said (via Sky Sports). “I’ve told my players to show a reaction on Monday.
“For us, it’s important that we are at our best. If we are on our best, we have the chance to be successful. At home, with our supporters, we have to have an atmosphere that this game deserves; it’s an important game.”
Fulham are just ahead of Huddersfield in the table, but don’t let that fool you into thinking they are enjoying their first Premier League season since 2013/14. The Cottagers are only one place and two points ahead of Huddersfield, with their only league win so far coming against Burnley back in August.
To make matters worse, Slavisa Jokanovic’s side have leaked an eye-watering 28 goals from their opening 10 league games, which is by far the worst record in the Premier League, putting immense pressure on the likes of Aleksandar Mitrovic, Andre Schurrle and Ryan Sessegnon to keep delivering at the other end.
The size of this clash isn’t lost on Jokanovic, either, with the Serbian manager labelling it a ‘six-pointer’.
“It’s a really important game for us, it’s a really important game for Huddersfield too,” he said.
“It’s an early six-pointer at the beginning of November. After the game, it’s not going to be done for either team.”
Where can I watch live?
Huddersfield vs Fulham can be viewed by UK residents on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League, channels 401 and 402 respectively for Sky customers and channels 511 and 512 respectively for Virgin Media users.
The game is also available to watch on fuboTV.
Can Huddersfield make home advantage count?
Six of Huddersfield’s nine wins last season came at the John Smith’s Stadium, with the Terriers faithful often creating a cauldron of noise to help push their players over the line.
Meanwhile, Fulham haven’t won a Premier League away game since taking all three points from Villa Park back in April 2014, a 2-1 win over Aston Villa.
Home advantage is essential for any team, regardless of their aspirations, but it is rarely more important than in a relegation battle. Huddersfield are blessed with loud, loyal fans who really get behind their players and they will surely answer David Wagner’s rallying call.
His players have to make sure they match their supporters on the pitch and start converting home games into three points if they have any hope of extending their Premier League stay for another year.
Where is the plug for Fulham’s leaky defence?
No team has ever conceded more goals in their opening 10 games of a Premier League season than Fulham have this season (28).
To put it simply, they have been completely hapless at the back and if they hope to salvage anything from this season. That has to change.
Jokanovic desperately searches for a formula to repair his punctured defence, relentlessly rotating the likes of Callum Chambers, Maxime Le Marchand, Tim Ream, Timothy Fosu-Mensah and Alfie Mawson.
The Serbian has also switched between Marcus Bettinelli, Fabri and Sergio Rico in goal and, despite this all being an effort to bring calm to the Fulham defence, it has only served to disrupt any and all growing partnerships at the back for the Cottagers.
A run of games for a settled defence, regardless of results, may just breed some understanding and start producing a few much-needed clean sheets.
Can Huddersfield finally rediscover their scoring touch?
While Fulham are blessed with a raft of attacking talent and can’t keep a clean sheet to save their skins, Huddersfield seem to be having the opposite problem.
The Terriers have managed to restrict the likes of Tottenham and Liverpool to two- and one-goal wins respectively this season but any defensive work Wagner’s side put in is being flushed down the drain by their complete inability to score at the other end.
The Yorkshire side have managed a meagre four goals from 10 league games so far and have only netted once in their last four outings, a Christopher Schindler strike in Huddersfield’s 1-1 draw away at Burnley in October.
The likes of Steve Mounie, Laurent Depoitre and Rajiv van La Parra look totally devoid of confidence in front of goal and if they don’t find their golden touch soon, that will spell real trouble for Huddersfield. Playing against the worst defence in the Premier League may just be the perfect tonic.
Head-to-head
Monday night’s tie will be the 67th time Huddersfield and Fulham have locked horns, with the pair being inseparable on 25 wins each.
However, Fulham have dominated the fixture in recent times and are unbeaten in their last 11 league meetings with Huddersfield, winning seven and drawing four. The Cottagers also beat Huddersfield by an aggregate score of 9-1 in their last meetings in the 2016-17 Championship.
Huddersfield wins: 25 Draws: 16 Fulham wins: 25
Team news
Huddersfield’s defence looks like it will be boosted by the return of Terence Kongolo, with the Netherlands international recovering from a hamstring injury that has kept him out of the last three games.
Tommy Smith has also recovered from a knee injury, while Rajiv van La Parra and Abdelhamid Sabiri are both back in training after suffering from illness.
Danny Williams (knee) is the only player seemingly out of contention for Monday night’s squad.
Fulham have midfielder Kevin McDonald back in contention after he missed their recent League cup defeat to Manchester City due to suspension having been sent off against Bournemouth last weekend.
Defender Joe Bryan remains unavailable with a hamstring injury.
Predicted Huddersfield XI: Lossl; Durm, Jorgensen, Schindler, Lowe; Mbenza, Billing, Hogg, Mooy; Pritchard; Depoitre.
Predicted Fulham XI: Rico; Fosu-Mensah, Le Marchand, Mawson, Sessegnon; Seri, Anguissa, Cairney; Vietto, Schurrle, Mitrovic.
Squawka prediction
With these two seemingly being incapable of defending, Huddersfield vs Fulham is almost guaranteed to be a slugfest between target men and an ‘if you score five, we’ll score six’ affair.
However, with Huddersfield also severely lacking in front of goal, that plays right into Fulham’s hands. I fancy the Terriers to get a couple of goals against a weak Fulham defence, but they won’t be able to cope with the attacking threat of Mitrovic, Schurrle, Sessegnon and Vietto.
Huddersfield 2-4 Fulham.
Predictions and betting tips
Get the BetBull sign-up offer HERE – Ts&Cs apply. +18 only. BeGambleAware.org
1. Aleksandar Mitrovic to score two or more goals @ 9/1
One of the few bright sparks of Fulham’s season so far has been Aleksandar Mitrovic. The giant Serbian striker has smashed in five goals in 10 Premier League games so far and seems to be asserting himself as a real force in the Premier League. Huddersfield are fragile at the back and ‘Mitro’ will be a real physical test, as well as an examination of the Terriers’ character.
Tip: Aleksandar Mitrovic to score two or more goals @ 9/1 with BetBull – bet here
Odds correct at time of publishing (05/11/2018, 13:25)
18+ only. Ts&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org
2. Over 4.5 goals @ 11/2
As previously mentioned, Huddersfield and Fulham are both terrible at defending. Huddersfield will see this game as a chance to get some goals on the board, while Fulham will feel their attacking prowess can really hurt a weak Terriers defence. With all of that in mind, you would be wise to back a goal-fest in this one.
Tip: Huddersfield vs Fulham to have more than 4.5 goals @ 11/2 with BetBull – bet here
Odds correct at time of publishing (05/11/2018, 13:25)
18+ only. Ts&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org
3. Philip Billing to be booked @ 5/2
Philip Billing has been working hard in that Huddersfield midfield this season, trying his best to cover their less-than-reliable defence. In the process of doing that, the Dane has picked up four yellow cards already. With the likes of Ryan Sessegnon and Andre Schurrle likely to be floating around him on Monday, you can expect he’ll be throwing the tackles in again and may well pick up another yellow card.
Tip: Philip Billing to be booked @ 5/2 with BetBull – bet here
Odds correct at time of publishing (05/11/2018, 13:25)
18+ only. Ts&Cs apply. BeGambleAware.org
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