Fulham are the overwhelming favourites as Cambridge United come calling in the EFL Cup.

Craven Cottage will play host to a third-round EFL Cup encounter on Tuesday night as Fulham welcome Cambridge United, with both sides seeking a place in the Round of 16 of the competition.

Marco Silva’s Fulham have navigated a testing opening to the 2025/26 campaign with composure and resilience. Having faced Brighton & Hove Albion, Manchester United, Chelsea, Leeds United, and Brentford in their first five league outings, the Cottagers have emerged with just one defeat in six matches across all competitions.

They opened the Premier League season with consecutive 1-1 draws against Brighton and Manchester United, each time showing character to come from behind. A 2-0 victory over Bristol City in the second round of the EFL Cup provided their first win of the season before their unbeaten run came to an end in a 2-0 loss at Chelsea.

That match was overshadowed by controversy, with Josh King’s early strike wrongly disallowed, an error later acknowledged by PGMOL. Fulham quickly put that setback behind them. A dramatic 1-0 win over Leeds came courtesy of a stoppage-time own goal, before Silva’s men impressed in a 3-1 triumph against Brentford.

Now on a run of back-to-back victories, the West London outfit return to cup action confident of progressing further, particularly as this will be their third straight fixture at home. Cambridge United arrive in West London with optimism but also inconsistency. Neil Harris, appointed in February, was unable to prevent their relegation from League One last season, and his side now find themselves adjusting to life back in League Two.

The U’s have recorded six wins from their opening 11 fixtures in all competitions, though that figure also includes three defeats and two draws. In the league, four wins, two draws, and three defeats place them ninth in the standings, with just one victory from their last three outings.

Nonetheless, Cambridge United have reserved some of their best football for this competition. A 2-0 success against Bristol Rovers was followed by an impressive 3-1 victory over Charlton Athletic to reach this stage, and Harris will be hoping his men can summon a similar performance against top-flight opposition.

History offers a minor psychological boost, as Cambridge defeated Fulham 3-1 in a pre-season friendly back in July 2019. However, Tuesday’s clash represents a far greater challenge: a trip to face a Premier League side in strong form at one of English football’s iconic venues. The Hard Tackle takes a look at how both sides could line up and what tactics they might employ on the day.

Team News & Tactics

Fulham

Marco Silva is expected to make several changes to his lineup for this EFL Cup third-round tie, handing opportunities to squad players who have featured less prominently in the Premier League. Second-choice goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte is set to make his second appearance for the club, having also started in the 2-0 victory over Bristol City in round two.

Club captain Tom Cairney, who has yet to start a Premier League match this season, is likely to be handed another start in midfield, pairing up with Harrison Reed to provide experience and balance in the centre of the park.

In defence, Issa Diop is expected to return to the fold and could form a partnership with Jorge Cuenca at the heart of the back four. Kenny Tete and Ryan Sessegnon are likely to retain their full-back positions, offering both defensive stability and width going forward.

Tactically, Fulham should line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation. Benjamin Lecomte will start in goal, with Kenny Tete at right-back, Issa Diop and Jorge Cuenca as the central defenders, and Ryan Sessegnon at left-back. Harrison Reed and Tom Cairney are expected to operate as the double pivot in midfield, tasked with screening the defence and initiating forward play.

Further ahead, Adama Traore is likely to start on the right wing, Harry Wilson could be deployed centrally as the attacking midfielder, and Emile Smith Rowe should provide creativity from the left. Leading the line, Raul Jimenez is expected to spearhead the attack, using his hold-up play and physical presence to unsettle the Cambridge defence.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Lecomte; Tete, Diop, Cuenca, Sessegnon; Reed, Cairney; Traore, Wilson, Smith Rowe; Jimenez

Cambridge United

Cambridge United will arrive at Craven Cottage with a near full-strength squad, as Neil Harris has no major injury or suspension concerns to contend with. This allows him to select a competitive lineup in hopes of springing an upset against Premier League opposition.

James Brophy, who is currently the club’s top scorer in League Two and has also found the net in the EFL Cup, is expected to start and lead the attacking line. His pace and directness will be key if Cambridge United are to trouble Fulham’s rotated back four.

Harris is likely to stick with a 4-2-3-1 formation. Jake Eastwood should take his place in goal, shielded by a back four of James Gibbons at right-back, Michael Morrison and Kelland Watts as the central defenders, and Ben Purrington at left-back.

In midfield, Pelly Ruddock Mpanzu and Shane McLoughlin are expected to provide defensive cover in the double pivot, offering stability and work rate to break up Fulham’s rhythm.

Ahead of them, James Brophy will take up the right-wing role, Sullay Kaikai will feature centrally as the attacking midfielder, and Adam Mayor is likely to start on the left, adding creativity and pressing energy. Kylian Kouassi is set to operate as the lone striker, using his physical presence to hold up play and stretch Fulham’s backline.

Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Eastwood; Gibbons, Morrison, Watts, Purrington; Mpanzu, McLoughlin; Brophy, Kaikai, Mayor; Kouassi

Key Stats

• Fulham and Cambridge United last met competitively in August 2014 in the EFL Cup second round, when the Cottagers ran out 3-1 winners at Craven Cottage.

• Fulham have progressed from each of their last five EFL Cup ties against lower-league opposition, scoring 13 goals and conceding just four in that run.

• Cambridge United have eliminated higher-tier opposition in three of their last four EFL Cup campaigns. Their most recent scalp came earlier this season with a 3-1 victory over Charlton Athletic.

• Fulham are unbeaten in their last seven home fixtures across all competitions in the EFL Cup, with their last defeat coming against Derby County in 2015.

• Cambridge United have failed to score in each of their last three EFL Cup ties against Premier League opposition, losing all three by an aggregate score of 7-0.

Player to Watch

Harry Wilson

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Harry Wilson is a key figure for Marco Silva’s Fulham, and matches like this EFL Cup tie provide the perfect stage for him to showcase his creativity and influence. The Welsh international is known for his ability to cut inside from wide areas, deliver precise crosses, and unleash dangerous strikes from distance, qualities that could prove decisive against lower-league opposition likely to sit deep.

Wilson’s set-piece delivery adds another dimension to Fulham’s attack, giving them an edge from dead-ball situations where Cambridge may struggle to cope with aerial pressure. His movement between the lines also creates space for teammates like Raúl Jiménez, while his eye for goal means he remains a constant threat himself.

With Fulham expected to dominate possession and territory at Craven Cottage, Wilson’s ability to break down a compact defence will be crucial. If the Cottagers are to progress comfortably, much of their attacking spark could come through his boots.

Prediction

Fulham 3-0 Cambridge United

On paper, this looks like a straightforward assignment for Fulham. Marco Silva’s side have settled well into the new season despite a challenging fixture list and now return to the EFL Cup brimming with confidence after successive league wins. Even with rotation expected, the Cottagers boast superior quality across all areas of the pitch, with players like Harry Wilson, Emile Smith Rowe, and Raul Jimenez more than capable of deciding the contest.

Cambridge United deserve credit for their cup run so far, having dispatched Bristol Rovers and Charlton Athletic, but this represents a considerable step up in class. While Neil Harris’s men will work hard to stay organised and frustrate their Premier League hosts, their struggles in front of goal this season suggest they may find it difficult to truly trouble Fulham’s defence at Craven Cottage.

Fulham’s depth, home advantage, and attacking firepower should make the difference, and it would be a major surprise if Cambridge United were able to repeat their pre-season friendly heroics from 2019.