After an embarrassing mid-week EFL Cup defeat at the hands of League Two AFC Wimbledon, Ipswich Town need a reaction in their first Premier League game that, on paper, they might expect to pick up points in.
Fulham on the other hand won away at Birmingham mid-week and have started the Premier League campaign relatively well. They were unlucky against Manchester United, falling to a late defeat. In contrast, they picked up their first win of the campaign in dominant fashion at home to Leicester, despite the scoreline only being 2-1.
The Blues, as expected, came away with defeats after a brutal start to life back in the Premier League, battling with Liverpool and Manchester City. Plenty of lessons would have been learned up against the world's best, which they can take into the game this weekend.
There have been positives for the Blue Army, who started impressively in their first game, matching Liverpool and going toe-for-toe with the Premier League heavyweights in the first half. The Tractor Boys also opened up their goalscoring account for the season, taking a shock lead at the Etihad through Sammie Szmodics.
There are no easy games in the Premier League and The Whites pose a tough, established and solid threat. Their mid-block is very tough to beat and they have added more quality in the final third, especially through Emile Smith Rowe.
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How Ipswich can limit Fulham's key attacking threats
Ipswich have been defensively tested against two of the best teams in the world so far. It has been a mixed bag and some players have swum whereas others have struggled so far. Fulham have pace and creativity in attack and will be looking to exploit the Blues from attacking transitions.
Left-back Antonee Robinson is not only incredible in the tackle but also offers a threat in attack and he helped himself to an assist against Leicester last week. Omari Hutchinson, who will likely be starting right wing, will have to be switched on out of possession and track the marauding fullback.
Jacob Greaves and Luke Woolfenden had the toughest task of the season up against the devastating Erling Haaland last week. Although Rodrigo Munoz is awaiting his first goal of this Premier League campaign, he has been getting in some deadly positions and that goal is likely to come soon. Whilst Munoz is no Haaland, he is a handful and it is important that the Ipswich centre-backs get tight to him in the box, as that is where he's at his most dangerous. He already knows what it's like to score at Portman Road.
Andreas Pereira has been thriving in a deeper role. He has created an incredible 13 chances in the first two games, which is almost double his nearest competitor. Emile Smith-Rowe opened his account against Leicester in clinical fashion and is an extremely talented footballer. It will be up to the Blues' skipper Sam Morsy, and whoever partners him in midfield, to keep the White creative threats quiet.
Adama Traore will be relishing the opportunity to drive at Leif Davis, who has looked far from convincing defensively in the opening couple of games. Traore opened the season in sharp form and also picked up an assist against Leicester. Davis will need to defend strongly to match up to Traore's impressive physicality. Fulham will be hoping to pin Davis back in defence to limit his own attacking threat.
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Which of Ipswich's new signings will we see against Fulham
The Tractor Boys have made 12 signings so far this window. The midweek defeat against AFC Wimbledon, which featured six debutants, demonstrated that it will take time to merge them all into the team and learn Kieran McKenna's patterns of play.
Arijanet Muric will be given a chance to redeem himself after his nightmare debut at the Etihad. A strong performance against the Cottagers will put him back in the Town fans' good books.
Jacob Greaves has played every minute so far for the Blues in the league and he will look to impress again at Portman Road from the off.
The left defensive midfielder role is up for grabs. McKenna has opted for Massimo Luongo from the off in both of the opening games but there is a chance that could change. Kalvin Phillips and Jens Cajuste both started against Wimbledon, both are in the running for the role.
There is a strong probability that the attack will consist entirely of new signings. Omari Hutchinson, whose loan was made permanent, will be looking to boost his confidence with a strong performance from the right.
Sammie Szmodics, who opened the Tractor Boys account for the season against Manchester City, will be looking to make it back-to-back goals. Jack Clarke will make his Premier League debut for the Blues and look to demonstrate his ball-carrying skills.
Liam Delap will lead the line and was given very little change from the Manchester City and Liverpool backlines. He will look to get off the mark for Town, although he demonstrated his ball-striking abilities with a thunderous penalty in the shootout loss against Wimbledon.
Ben Johnson, Chiedozie Ogbene, Conor Townsend and Dara O'Shea will all be involved in the squad as well.
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Pressure is on
The Blues can use the excuse that they faced two powerhouses in their opening fixtures. Most fans would have seen the Fulham game as the first big opportunity for a win. However, additional pressure has been added after the shock cup upset at Wimbledon and a reaction is crucial.
Fulham is by no means an easy game and it will be a tough test for the Tractor Boys against an established Premier League team. However, if the Blue Army want to stay up then it is vital to pick up something in fixtures against lesser opposition, especially at Portman Road.
The Whites have already dispatched one of the newly promoted teams in Leicester, convincingly, they will be looking to make it two newly promoted scalps in two weeks.
