Dwight McNeil Set For Rebound After Palace Bid, Says Gueye

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Fulham meet Everton at Craven Cottage this weekend in a key Premier League fixture, with European hopes, defensive records and a late transfer collapse involving Dwight McNeil all forming the backdrop to a match that brings together two sides showing different strengths this season.

Marco Silva’s team sit ninth after a late 2-1 defeat at Manchester United, when Benjamin Sesko struck in the 94th minute. Fulham are seven points off fourth place, yet Silva insisted the main focus stays on performance levels rather than league position or returning to European competition.

Silva explained Fulham’s approach in measured terms after that loss at Old Trafford. "We are in a race to be better every single moment. That is the main thingto improve ourselves as a team," Silva said, stressing progress over talk of qualifying for Europe.

Emile Smith Rowe voiced disappointment about conceding so late in Manchester, especially after Fulham had levelled deep into added time. "Really frustrating. I thought the boys fought really hard to get back into the game. It's a bit annoying to concede straight after equalising," Smith Rowe added.

Smith Rowe urged teammates to maintain unity for the demanding run of fixtures ahead. "We have to stick together at this moment in time. Coming here [Old Trafford], we knew it was going to be tough. We have to go again and stick together," the midfielder said.

While Fulham prepare for another high-pressure home game, Everton’s build-up has been dominated by McNeil’s failed switch to Crystal Palace on Deadline Day. Palace had agreed a loan move with an obligation to buy for £20m, after McNeil slipped down the selection order under David Moyes.

A deal sheet went in to the Premier League, giving Palace two extra hours to finish the transfer, and McNeil underwent a medical with Oliver Glasner’s side. The 26-year-old, who joined Everton from Burnley four years ago, was understood to be offered a contract running until 2030.

However, the move fell through when the paperwork was not completed in time before the extended deadline. McNeil’s partner, Megan Sharpley, later posted about the saga and suggested Crystal Palace’s handling of the situation had affected the midfielder’s mental health, adding another layer to an already difficult episode.

Idrissa Gueye believes McNeil can still play a major role at Everton after the collapse. "I am very happy to have him back personally, Gueye told Sky Sports News. Dwight is a great lad and he works hard. He has a lot of quality and was a really important player for us in the last few years when we were battling relegation. He is an important player for us. What happened to him? Hopefully, he will just put it to the side, and we will be there to welcome him, to make him comfortable. He just needs to work hard. He is still important to us, everyone is important in this team."

Everton also underlined public support for McNeil on social media ahead of the Fulham trip, highlighting the importance of the coming months for the winger and the squad’s unity across the second half of the campaign.

Historically, Craven Cottage has often favoured the home side in this fixture. Fulham won their first seven Premier League home meetings with Everton, and eight of the opening nine. Since then, they have managed only one victory in nine home league games against the Toffees, drawing four and losing four.

Even so, Fulham’s home numbers this season remain strong. They have seven wins from 12 league matches on their own ground, a total matched only by the current top three clubs. That already equals their home win tally from last season and gives them a 58% home win rate, bettered only by 68% in 2005-06.

Everton’s recent away performances offer a clear counterpoint to Fulham’s strength at Craven Cottage. Moyes’ side have conceded just 11 goals in 12 away Premier League matches this season, with only Arsenal allowing fewer on their travels, on nine. It is their first sub-one-goal-per-game away defence since 2008-09.

Since Moyes returned to Everton in January last year, the team have become draw specialists in the league. They have shared the points 14 times, more than any other side in that span, including three draws in their last four games. Over those 43 matches, Everton have collected 65 points, 17 more than in the previous 43.

Raul Jimenez provides Fulham’s main cutting edge in attack. Jimenez has six Premier League goals this campaign, and among Fulham players aged 34 or older, only Brian McBride has bettered that total in a single season, scoring nine in 2006-07. Jimenez’s last four league goals have all arrived in minutes ending in the number five.

That unusual pattern links Jimenez with Phil Foden, who is the only player to score five straight Premier League goals in minutes ending in the same digit. Foden’s sequence came between November 2022 and May 2023, with goals in the 45th, 45th, 15th, 85th and 25th minutes for Manchester City.

James Garner remains a central figure for Everton after staying on Merseyside despite transfer links. The midfielder leads all Everton players in three major defensive metrics in the league this season, topping the club charts for possession won with 125, tackles with 74 and interceptions with 35.

Across the Premier League as a whole, Garner’s numbers also stand out. Garner sits fourth for possession won, joint-second for tackles and third for interceptions. That all-round defensive output has made Garner one of Everton’s most reliable performers during a period of regular squad changes and tight matches.

Fulham vs Everton prediction and Opta odds

Opta model data points slightly towards a home win at Craven Cottage. Fulham’s strong home record this season, and the high proportion of home victories in this fixture’s Premier League history, are weighed against Everton’s improved away defence and frequent draws under Moyes.

Of all Premier League fixtures played at least 30 times, Everton vs Fulham has the highest share of home wins, with 65% of matches ending in victory for the hosts. However, Everton won 2-0 at the Hill Dickinson Stadium in November and are chasing their first league double over Fulham since 2013-14.

Below is the Opta win probability for this match.

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McNeil’s transfer disappointment, Fulham’s European aspirations and Everton’s resilient away form all add interest to this meeting. With Fulham strong at home and Everton difficult to break down, the tie shapes as a balanced contest, where small details at both ends may decide whether Opta’s marginal lean to Fulham proves correct.