Tottenham visit Craven Cottage to take on Fulham.
Tottenham Hotspur are set to visit Fulham this weekend as the North Londoners look to get back to winning ways with a new man in charge at the helm at N17.
Igor Tudor took charge of proceedings at Hotspur Way from Thomas Frank as the former Juventus man was charged with the task of keeping Spurs out of that relegation battle in the ongoing 2025-26 season.
He did have a difficult start to life in England, as he was thrown at the far end, facing league leaders Arsenal in his first game on the touchline for his new employers.
But now he has a task ahead of him, and this weekend it starts with a highly anticipated London derby where Fulham would be looking to maintain their charge for a possible European spot while the visitors try to get some breathing room between them and the drop zone.
And we take a look at three tactical battles on the pitch come tomorrow that can end up deciding the outcome of the game.
3 key battles to watch in Fulham vs Tottenham Hotspur
Alex Iwobi vs Conor Gallagher
The Gunners academy graduate is surely one of Fulham’s most progressive ball carriers of late, and it is also because of how Marco Silva has started using him. This season we have seen the Nigerian international operate more between midfield and attacking zones, which has allowed him to drift into pockets and drive forward with the ball. And this has been the key to his success. Generally, this season we have seen how if Iwobi has a good game, Fulham do as well.
But standing in his way would be a road runner in Conor Gallagher, who will be looking to use his relentless pressing and energy in the middle of the park to disrupt Iwobi’s rhythm. The Cobham Academy graduate will have to close angles whilst limiting turns and forcing Iwobi into rushed decisions.
If Iwobi were to find space to run into with the ball, Fulham would gain control in transitional situations, but if Gallagher ends up dominating this duel, then the Lilywhites suddenly will have a sense of stability in the second phase.
Harry Wilson vs Djed Spence
If we think about Fulham this season, many fans would point to Harry Wilson. While Iwobi has been controlling games, Wilson has been bringing it home for them. And that is exactly what the 28-year-old would be striving to do this weekend as well.
Going down that right flank, Harry Wilson generally looks to isolate his marker before cutting inside onto his stronger foot. Then you get a dual threat; he can either put in a quality delivery or end up generating a shooting threat from the half-space, which makes him a constant danger, especially when defenders hesitate on which side to cover.
But for Tottenham, they have Spence to contain him. And Spence has been good at maintaining his aggression while not giving away many gaps (like what we saw him do against Arsenal with Saka last game).
This one can end up dictating whether the hosts can stretch Spurs’ back line or they get space of their own on transitions.
Kolo Muani vs Joachim Andersen
Tudor already knows Muani, and he trusts the Frenchman to deliver good, like we saw him do when he was deployed in the focal role against Arsenal last weekend. It is his constant movements across the frontline and his ability to attack space behind defenders that makes him difficult to control. Even Salliba and Gabriel found it difficult to leash him in the North London derby.
And that task will most likely fall to Joachim Andersen in that Fulham roster. The former Crystal Palace defender is excellent when it comes to aerial duels, and he is quite composed when it comes to reading the ball before going into challenges.
If Andersen ends up getting the better of the physical duels, then Fulham can compress the pitch. But if Kolo Muani even ends up finding channels between the lines or spins in behind for a few sequences, Tottenham could get some goal-scoring opportunities.