Manchester City welcome Fulham to the Etihad Stadium on Saturday afternoon and the only outcome I can see is a home win.

City are still without the Toure brothers (African Cup of Nations) and Mario Balotelli (Suspended) but new signing David Pizarro is in contention to start, with Nigel De Jong seemingly out of favour with Roberto Mancini.

Fulham’s deadline day signing Pavel Pogrebnyak won’t be available as he hasn’t received international clearance in time, but the Cottagers will welcome back Mark Schwarzer and talented attacker Mouassa Dembele.

The West-London outfit do play some nice football, and although they have a very skilful front three of Clint Dempsey, Bryan Ruiz and Dembele, I can’t see them having enough of the ball to trouble Man City.

I have thought for a few weeks now that City aren’t firing on all cylinders after their blistering start to the season, but that doesn’t seem to matter much. They are still top of the league on goal difference and will be determined not to allow neighbours Manchester United the chance to go top on Sunday.

Fulham haven’t won in their last six league games, while City have won their last 16 games at home – their last dropped points coming in a 1-1 draw at the end of last season with…Fulham.

As well as this, City have scored three or more, in nine games at home this season and Arsenal are the only team to stop them scoring twice in a home game so far.

The pressure is on City to some extent. They will go into the game knowing that a win would potentially see them three points clear again, come Monday.

This will be their incentive, to put the pressure back on United ahead of their tough away trip to Chelsea and I’m sure City will have more than enough to do just that.