Burnley vs Fulham preview: Key relegation clash at Turf Moor

Burnley and Fulham clash in a pivotal relegation fixture on Saturday as the battle for survival intensifies.

Fulham remain second from bottom but can move to within a point of 16th-place Burnley with an away win.

Turf Moor has been a bogey ground for the Cottagers as Burnley are unbeaten in the last 26 meetings since Apr 1951, although Fulham did win the reverse fixture at Craven Cottage 4-2 in August.

Fulham boss Claudio Ranieri insists he still believes in his players despite last weekend's shock FA Cup loss to Sky Bet League Two club Oldham.

Fulham bowed out of the FA Cup's third round following a limp 2-1 home defeat, but Ranieri is confident the squad have reset their focus this week.

"I'm positive because I believe in this team and this club," said Ranieri. "But also Burnley think, 'if we kill Fulham we go up'.

"And for this reason, I think it's a very, very crucial match. Believe me, at the moment I never look at the table. Because I know where we are, staying under water and I want to go up!"

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Team news

Tom Heaton is likely to keep his place in goal for Burnley while Phil Bardsley and Matt Lowton both have chances to start after recovering from knocks. Robbie Brady is suspended.

Andre-Frank Zambo Anguissa is available for selection after recovering from an ankle problem that has seen him miss the last five games but Alfie Mawson remains sidelined with a knee injury.

Calum Chambers should return at centre-back after missing the Arsenal game due to terms of his loan contract from his permanent club.

Opta stats

• Burnley are unbeaten in their last 29 home matches against Fulham in all competitions (W24 D5) since a 0-2 defeat in the top-flight in April 1951.
• Although this is the 43rd league season these sides have faced, Fulham are looking to complete a league double over Burnley for only the fifth time, and the first time since the 1950-51 campaign.
• Burnley have won their last two Premier League games, picking up more points (6) than they had in their previous 12 in the competition (5 - W1 D2 L9).
• Fulham are the only Premier League side yet to win away from home this season (W0 D2 L9), conceding more goals than any other side on the road (28).
• All three of Fulham's Premier League wins this season have been against sides starting the day in the bottom four (17th or lower) - Burnley are 16th coming into this game.
• Burnley have only lost one of their last 13 Premier League games against sides in the relegation zone (W6 D6), though it was in the reverse fixture against Fulham this season.
• Fulham have had just five different goalscorers in the Premier League this season (excluding own goals), fewer than any other side.
• Andre Schurrle had 11 shots for Fulham (scoring once) against Burnley in this season's reverse league fixture, the most shots by a player in a single Premier League game during 2018-19.

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Merson's prediction

Fulham have improved under Claudio Ranieri but Burnley have got that Premier League experience, that know-how when it comes to winning matches and I fancy them to continue upturn in form after a difficult start to the season. Burnley have got back to principles which saw them finish seventh last season, when they do that they are a hard team to beat and play against, that wasn't the case in their first half of the season.

PAUL PREDICTS: 2-0 (with Sky Bet)

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