Per quella che da sempre è la nostra gara preferita, e che talvolta abbiamo visto in compagnia di Presi Luca, nel Fulham mancheranno Hangeland e Bent, due assenze pesanti, mentre nel Villa sono in dubbio Vlaar e Luna.
Il Fulham sino a questo momento è stata la squadra delusione del campionato tranne che nella gara col Palace (dove ero presente. Un caso?
) ma dopo la sostituzione di Martin Jol sta dando segni di risveglio, e mercoledì col Tottenham ha giocato bene schierando nella formazione base 7 giocatori diversi.
Oggi ha un solo imperativo: vincere, dato che poi incontrerà Everton e United e rischia di andare nel boxing day a Norwich da ultimo in classifica.
Il Fulham ha perso le ultime sette gare, statisticamente è difficile che una serie del genere continui, anche se i claret and blue sono squadra da trasferta. E Benteke non segna da tre mesi. . .
BBC STATS
Head-to-head
Fulham have only won four of their 24 Premier League meetings with Aston Villa (W4, D11, L9). All of those victories have come at home, latterly last season when Chris Baird scored the only goal in the 84th minute.
The last four meetings have only produced four goals.
Fulham
Fulham have lost six consecutive league matches for the first time since February-March 2002 in their debut Premier League season.
It's the club's joint-worst start to a top-flight campaign. They had an identical record after 14 matches in 1967-68 (W3, D1, L10) and ultimately finished bottom of the division.
Fulham have won just one and lost nine of their last 11 Premier League games at Craven Cottage (W1, D1, L9).
This the first time the Whites have lost five of their opening seven top-flight home matches.
They have trailed in 11 games this season, more than any other side, and lost 10 of those matches (D1).
Rene Meulensteen's previous managerial experience is limited to half a season at Brondby in 2006-07 and two games in charge of Anzhi Makhachkala at the beginning of this season. In total, he won six and lost seven of his 20 league games in charge with those two clubs.
Aston Villa
Villa have only lost one of their last nine Premier League away matches (W4, D4, L1). Their record of just three away defeats in 2013 is bettered only by Manchester United (two).
Paul Lambert's side are on a five-match unbeaten run (W2, D3), keeping three clean sheets in the process.
They are the only Premier League side yet to drop any points from a winning position.
Christian Benteke, who came on as a substitute against Southampton in midweek, has now gone eight games without a goal.
Fabian Delph registered his first Premier League goal and assist against the Saints.
