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Fulham vs Southampton: Carabao Cup – Opposition Threats

By Harry Tizard

LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 29: Aleksandar Mitrovic of Fulham celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion at Craven Cottage on January 29, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND - JANUARY 29: Aleksandar Mitrovic of Fulham celebrates after scoring his team's second goal during the Premier League match between Fulham and Brighton & Hove Albion at Craven Cottage on January 29, 2019 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images) /
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LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 21: Aleksandar Mitrovic of Fulham shows his appreciation to the fans after the Sky Bet Championship match between Fulham and Leeds United at Craven Cottage on August 21, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – AUGUST 21: Aleksandar Mitrovic of Fulham shows his appreciation to the fans after the Sky Bet Championship match between Fulham and Leeds United at Craven Cottage on August 21, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by Naomi Baker/Getty Images) /

Aleksandar Mitrovic

Serbian international Aleksander Mitrovic may not only be Fulham’s most dangerous player, but most likely the best player in the Championship as a whole. Originally loaned in from Newcastle, but signed on a permeant basis on the 30th July 2018, the striker has scored twenty seven league goals for his current side, including eleven goals in thirty seven matches in the Premier League last season. Adding to this, he is quite clearly settled in London, with Mitrovic rejecting interested Premier League sides and signing a new deal  with the club until 2024.

The former Anderlecht attacker has many attributes, and is considered a very complete forward. His height and presence in the eighteen yard-box allows him to act as a target man, holding up the ball from long balls or sitting on the penalty spot awaiting crosses in attempt to nod the ball home. The twenty four year old is also a fox in the box, with clever movement allowing him to lose his marker and give him space to receive a pass in the box and finish the attacking move with a goal.

The potent number nine will also be very familiar with every single Saints fan, with Mitrovic scoring a brace in a 3-2 victory for his side. The Fulham man opened his sides scoring through a free header in the box (losing all three of his markers) directing the ball into the far corner past a fully stretched Alex McCarthy – levelling the score at the time. With the score level at 2-2 heading into the final minutes of the match, the Serbian backed off of marker Cerdic to get onto the end of a deflected cross and volley home into the side netting and allowing the home side to take all three points.

With all this considered, the Southampton defence selected for this cup tie must keep an eye on Mitrovic, with the striker a lethal attacker in the Fulham side if given a yard of space in front of goal.