Fulham host Everton in the Premier League on Saturday trying to maintain a strong start to the term. So, where are the Cottagers XI that last beat the Toffees at Craven Cottage now?
The west London side has not edged the Merseyside outfit on home soil since taking a 2-0 result in 2019. Goals from Tom Cairney and Ryan Babel dealt the damage for Scott Parker’s squad. The result also ended a run of three consecutive defeats to the Goodison Park club.
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It was also the first top-flight win Fulham had claimed over Everton since back in 2009, also at home. Yet they did not have to wait another 10 years to win again. A brace by Josh Maja gifted Parker a 2-0 win on the road in February 2021. Everton had won 3-2 in west London.
Fulham are above Everton in the Premier League table regardless of Saturday’s clash
Fulham go into this weekend’s match with Everton as the form side after a strong start to their campaign under former Toffees boss Marco Silva. The Portuguese has the Cottagers seventh in the standings after 12 games following five wins and three draws for 18 points.
His former team, on the other hand, sits in 12th place with 13 points after three wins and four draws. The Merseyside outfit edging Crystal Palace 3-0 last Saturday also meant Frank Lampard’s squad ended a run of three-straight defeats. Fulham are without a loss in three.
What’s more, Fulham boast the vastly superior offensive record with 22 goals scored to 11. But Everton have the superior defensive record having conceded 12 goals compared to 22. Lampard will hope his defence will now stand up to Silva’s attacking line at Craven Cottage.
So, ahead of Everton’s trip to Fulham, HITC Football has taken a look back at the Cottagers XI that beat the Toffees at Craven Cottage in April 2019 and where those players are now…
Sergio Rico (GK): PSG outcast shut Everton out as Fulham won 2-0 in 2019
Sergio Rico shut Everton out as Fulham secured a 2-0 win in 2019. The Cottagers had hired the Spaniard on loan from Sevilla for a season. He then joined Paris Saint-Germain over the summer in a loan they made permanent. But the 29-year-old is far from PSG’s first choice.
Timothy Fosu-Mensah (RB): Former Fulham loanee is now at Bayer Leverkusen
Timothy Fosu-Mensah joined Fulham on loan from Manchester United during the 2018/19 term. The 24-year-old would return to Old Trafford at the end of his stay in the capital. But he would fail to establish himself before joining Bayer Leverkusen in January 2021 for £2m.
Tim Ream (CB): The defender is one of the few survivors of Fulham’s win over Everton
Tim Ream is one of the few survivors of Fulham’s win over Everton still at Craven Cottage now. He will also be a starting presence at home to the Toffees on Saturday, if fit, having been vital for Silva. The 35-year-old joined the Cottagers from Bolton Wanderers in 2015.
Maxime Le Marchand (CB): Strasbourg signed the defender from Fulham in 2021
Maxime Le Marchand left his native France for the first time to sign for Fulham in 2018. He is now back in Ligue 1, though, after joining RC Strasbourg Alsace in 2021 following a spell on loan to Royal Antwerp. The 33-year-old featured in just 48 matches with the Cottagers.
Joe Bryan (LB): Fulham have loaned the full-back to OGC Nice for the 22/23 season
Fulham have sent Joe Bryan to OGC Nice on loan for the 2022/23 campaign after holding a reserve role at Craven Cottage last term. The 29-year-old only featured 19 times across all competitions as the Cottagers secured promotion. He has been in west London since 2018.
Calum Chambers (CDM): Aston Villa defender shone in midfield for Fulham
Calum Chambers shone in midfield during his time on loan to Fulham from Arsenal during the 2018/19 season. But the 27-year-old was unable to secure a prominent presence back at Emirates Stadium. The Gunners later let Chambers join Aston Villa for free this January.
Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa (CDM): Napoli signed the midfielder in May
Napoli finalised a £15m transfer for Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa this May after having the Cameroonian on loan last term. Fulham had signed him in 2018, but they later sent him to Villarreal on loan in 2019/20. The 26-year-old is now helping Napoli push for a Serie A title.
Ryan Sessegnon (RM): Tottenham signed the Fulham product in 2019
Tottenham Hotspur signed Ryan Sessegnon at 19 years old for £25m, rising up to £30m, in 2019. The wing-back, who often featured in attack at Fulham, left Craven Cottage after 25 goals and 18 assists in 120 games. He is also now a regular in England’s U21s on 20 caps.
Tom Cairney (CAM): Captained Fulham to a 2-0 win at home to Everton in 2019
Fulham beat Everton at Craven Cottage in April 2019 on the back of nine-straight top-flight defeats. Cairney captained Parker’s side for all but one game in that run. The 31-year-old is still in west London now. But the midfielder is now only a backup player there under Silva.
Ryan Babel (LM): Scored Fulham’s second goal to beat Everton at home in 2019
Fulham signed Ryan Babel from Besiktas for £2m in January 2019 on a contract running to the end of that season. The 35-year-old would offer five goals and four assists over his 16 appearances with the Cottagers. But he would return to the Super Lig come the summer.
Galatasaray lured Babel back to Turkey once his Fulham contract lapsed. Yet he would join Ajax on loan the following January before cutting a pivotal role at Galatasaray thereafter. But the 69-cap Netherlands forward now plies his trade with Turkish second-tier side Eyupspor.
Aleksandar Mitrovic (ST): Fulham striker is on course to smash his 2018/19 tally
Aleksandar Mitrovic is on course to smash his 2018/19 Premier League goal tally and set a personal best haul this season. The forward already has nine in 11 games ahead of hosting Everton on Saturday. His previous best is the 11 he set over 2018/19 from 37 appearances.