Marco Silva admits Fulham have a "big fight" on their hands if they are to achieve European qualification this season, ahead of Sunday's clash with Tottenham at Craven Cottage.

A last-minute Joao Pedro penalty dealt a blow to Fulham's continental hopes last week, as they were beaten 2-1 by Brighton and Hove Albion.

They enter this weekend's fixtures 10th in the Premier League table, seven points adrift of the top four and five behind Newcastle United in sixth.

The Opta supercomputer gives them a 7.2% chance of making the top six, though they may not need to finish that high to qualify for Europe, depending on how the Premier League's participants in UEFA competitions fare this season.

"It's going to be a big fight, many teams are there," Silva said after last week's loss. "We have to take some positives. Don't be nervous, express yourselves."

Sunday's match will be Silva's 200th game as a Premier League manager, making him the second Portuguese coach to reach this milestone after Jose Mourinho (363). 

Silva has the highest win rate of any Fulham manager in the competition's history (37.5% - 39 wins, 24 draws, 41 losses).

The game will also see Fulham full-back Ryan Sessegnon reunited with his former club, having struggled for regular gametime as a Spurs player between 2019 and 2024.

"We're very good at bouncing back so we have to do that on Sunday," Sessegnon told Fulham's website.

"Coming back to the club, I always had an eye on the games against Spurs. I had a taste of it at their stadium earlier this season and I can't wait for the game back here.

"Everyone knows the problems I had with injuries, but especially under Antonio Conte, I got a run of games and enjoyed it. 

"It's a very good club with good people, and I'm obviously happy to be here now but I'm looking forward to seeing some familiar faces on Sunday."

Tottenham beat AZ Alkmaar 3-1 in the second leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday, keeping Ange Postecoglou's hopes of second-season silverware alive.

They are 13th in the Premier League table, eight points adrift of the top half.

After recovering several injured players, Postecoglou believes Spurs now look more like themselves, saying: "That's coincided with a couple of significant things. 

"One is getting some players back and also the ability to rotate and keep the team fresh. We're getting our good ball players on the ball and looking sharp in the final third. 

"Those things help us play the football we want to play and hopefully we can do it more consistently now."

PLAYERS TO WATCH 

Fulham – Raul Jimenez

All 10 of Jimenez's Premier League goals this season have either put Fulham ahead (seven goals) or drawn them level (three) in the match, the most goals any player has scored with 100% of them being result-changing this term.

Tottenham – Guglielmo Vicario

Based on Opta's expected goals on target conceded metric, Spurs goalkeeper Vicario has prevented around five goals in the Premier League this season (21.9 xGoT faced, 17 goals conceded).

Only Crystal Palace shot-stopper Dean Henderson (36.6 xGoT faced, 31 goals conceded) has a better record this term.

MATCH PREDICTION – FULHAM WIN

Fulham are unbeaten in their last two Premier League games against Tottenham, having lost 14 of the previous 16 against them beforehand (one win, one draw). 

They last went three without defeat in the league against Spurs between November 2008 and December 2009.

Silva's team have lost four of their last eight Premier League matches, though, as many defeats as they suffered during their first 20 this season (seven wins, nine draws). 

They have also lost their last two London derbies, having gone unbeaten in their previous 10 in the league, winning five and drawing five.

But they will be confident of a victory here, with Tottenham coming off the back of a huge European tie and having lost each of their last five Premier League games on a matchday immediately before an international break.

Neutrals should expect entertainment, too. No team's Premier League games have seen more goals scored than Tottenham's this season (96 – 55 for, 41 against). Only league leaders Liverpool (69) have scored more goals than Spurs in 2024-25.

OPTA WIN PROBABILITY

Fulham – 46.6%

Tottenham – 29.4%

Draw – 24%