Adrian Clarke looks at key tactical points and players who can be decisive in Matchweek 35.
Player analysis: Ryan Sessegnon (Fulham)
The sight of a rejuvenated Ryan Sessegnon shining brightly for Fulham has been one of the best feelgood stories of 2025.
He burst on to the scene as a 16-year-old at Craven Cottage, becoming the first player born in the 2000s to score a first-team goal in English football back in August 2016.
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Sessegnon was labelled as a wonder kid after scoring 15 times in the Championship in 2017/18 and was sold to Tottenham Hotspur for a reported £25million in 2019.
But he was released by Spurs last summer after scoring just two Premier League goals in five disappointing, injury-ravaged campaigns, with his return to Fulham perceived by some as a nostalgic signing.
Over recent weeks though, Sessegnon has proven he still has plenty to offer at the highest level.
Sessegnon has been involved in six goals (four goals and two assists) across his last eight Premier League appearances, which is as many as he managed across his previous 59 matches in the competition.
Four of those goal involvements have come in the last month, which has seen him earn a nomination for April's EA SPORTS Player of the Month award.
Strong down both flanks
The 24-year-old has developed from being a left-back, to someone who is now a highly adaptable wide-forward, following in the footsteps of players such as Gareth Bale and Bukayo Saka.
He remains a quality option in Marco Silva’s back four, as he showed when crowning a top-class performance with a superb stooping header in the second minute of stoppage time to help his side beat Southampton last time out.
Sessegnon's winner v Southampton
Yet many of his appearances in recent weeks have been at the opposite end of the pitch, revelling in a role as Fulham’s right-winger.
Sessegnon’s versatility this season can be seen on this graphic below.
While he may have spent the first half of 2024/25 mainly as an unused substitute, he has since been utilised in a number of positions.
Sessegnon's minutes per position 2024/25
Hungry to make things happen
It is not by chance that Sessegnon has produced six direct goal involvements since late February.
He is constantly on the move, looking for opportunities to make a telling forward run.
His off-the-ball runs are targeted by a pass 10.65 times per 90 minutes, with striker Raul Jimenez the only team-mate with more.
He also ranks second behind Antonee Robinson for the most sprints, making over 24 per match on average.
Fulham's top sprinters 2024/25
| Player | Minutes played* | Sprints per 90 |
| Antonee Robinson | 2,898 | 24.6 |
|---|---|---|
| Ryan Sessegnon | 414 | 24.1 |
| Reiss Nelson | 486 | 22.0 |
| Harry Wilson | 931 | 18.9 |
| Willian | 223 | 18.6 |
*Minimum 100 minutes played
It was from a long, lung-busting sprint from deep that Sessegnon scored his first goal of the season at Molineux.
He kept his composure to bury a low shot into the bottom corner after racing on to Andreas Pereira’s pass.
Sessegnon's goal v Wolves
Attacking ambition
This positive desire to force his markers to run back towards their own goal has lifted Fulham at regular intervals, and it is a weapon Sessegnon will use at Aston Villa this Saturday.
He skipped down the right wing at speed before cutting the ball back for Rodrigo Muniz to score against Arsenal.
Sessegnon also netted a fabulous goal against his former club Spurs, chasing a long ball over the top, winning a duel with Ben Davies, before curling home a right-footed beauty.
For somebody who has spent time playing at left-back this season, Sessegnon’s attacking numbers are fabulous.
He has more touches in the opposition box per 90 minutes than anyone else at Craven Cottage (the strikers included) and is statistically their best finisher, converting 30.77 per cent of his chances.
Sessegnon's attacking stats 2024/25
| Stat per 90 | Fulham rank* | |
| Touches inside opposition box | 7.61 | 1st |
|---|---|---|
| Shot conversion rate | 30.77% | 1st |
| Shots from fast breaks | 0.43 | 1st |
| Shots inside box | 2.61 | 3rd |
| Expected Goals | 0.35 | 3rd |
| Chances created in open play | 1.96 | 3rd |
*Minimum five starts
A pressing machine
We should not have been surprised to see Sessegnon rob Reece James in midfield before setting up Alex Iwobi to score against Chelsea last month.
Sessegnon's assist v Chelsea
It was a brilliant assist that typifies his burning desire to unsettle opponents.
Aside from his excellent attacking output, Silva will also enjoy watching Sessegnon set the tone for others to follow with his high work ethic out of possession.
No Fulham player averages more pressures per 90 minutes than Sessegnon.
Fulham's pressures 2024/25
| Pressures per 90 | |
| Ryan Sessegnon | 35.22 |
|---|---|
| Emile Smith Rowe | 32.34 |
| Rodrigo Muniz | 29.15 |
| Reiss Nelson | 28.89 |
| Andreas Pereira | 27.04 |
Does he help Fulham win the ball back on a frequent basis, then? Absolutely.
In fact, from all the top-flight players who have made at least five starts, Spurs striker Dominic Solanke is the only individual who brings about more turnovers than Sessegnon's 6.3 per match.
Highest pressures resulting in turnover 2024/25
| Pressures resulting in turnover* | |
| Dominic Solanke | 6.78 |
|---|---|
| Ryan Sessegnon | 6.30 |
| Christopher Nkunku | 5.14 |
| Wilson Odobert | 5.03 |
| Marshall Munetsi | 5.02 |
*Minimum five starts
Happy in his 'new' home
It really does feel as if Sessegnon is now in an environment which brings the best out of him, with Fulham supporters showing him plenty of love since his return to the club.
He is clearly in the process of making up for lost time and his transfer is starting to look like a very smart acquisition.
No matter where he plays on Saturday, his desire, skill and confidence has the potential to unsettle Villa.
