Fulham and Manchester United meet again on Sunday at Craven Cottage, rekindling the rivalry from their season-opening encounter in August. The Red Devils emerged victorious in that match, winning 1-0 at Old Trafford, but the Cottagers now sit seven points ahead of United in the Premier League standings as they prepare for the rematch.
Team News
Manchester United’s victory over Rangers in midweek came at a defensive cost. Both Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro were forced off before the hour mark, and their availability for Sunday remains uncertain. Manager Rúben Amorim expressed doubts about their fitness in his pre-match press conference. Meanwhile, Mason Mount (leg), Jonny Evans (muscle), and Luke Shaw (hamstring) remain sidelined. However, Victor Lindelof has resumed training, and Noussair Mazraoui is expected to return after missing the Europa League clash as a precaution. Mazraoui may need to fill in as part of a back three if both Yoro and de Ligt are ruled out. In goal, Andre Onana is likely to reclaim his spot from Altay Bayindir, despite enduring a difficult season marked by errors, including one in the recent loss to Brighton.
For Fulham, the injury list remains unchanged. Kenny Tete (knee) and Arsenal loanee Reiss Nelson (hamstring) are the only absentees. Sasa Lukic is one booking away from a two-game suspension, leaving Tom Cairney, Harrison Reed, and promising 18-year-old Josh King as potential midfield alternatives. Marco Silva could consider a tactical switch on the flanks, with Adama Traoré vying to replace Alex Iwobi after his impactful performance against Leicester.
Form Guide
Last weekend saw Rúben Amorim’s Manchester United outclassed by Fabian Hurzeler’s Brighton, suffering a 3-1 defeat at Old Trafford. That result marked United’s 10th Premier League loss of the campaign, leaving them languishing in 13th place. The Red Devils could drop as low as 15th if they fail to secure a result on Sunday, with points-wise proximity to the relegation zone continuing to loom larger than their ambitions for a top-seven finish. Amorim faces an unwelcome milestone, as another league defeat would be his seventh this season – a first in his managerial career.
In contrast, Fulham come into this fixture buoyed by a confident 2-0 win over Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester City last weekend. Goals from Emile Smith Rowe and Adama Traoré ended a three-game winless streak in the Premier League. Before that, Fulham had suffered a narrow 3-2 defeat at West Ham and shared the spoils in a 2-2 draw with Ipswich Town. With 1.6 goals per game – their best offensive record in a Premier League season – Silva’s side are proving a tough nut to crack.
Predicted Outcome
Manchester United’s defensive frailties – having conceded in each of their last 13 games – may continue to plague them against a Fulham side enjoying a rich vein of scoring form. However, Fulham’s vulnerabilities at the back could also leave them exposed, setting the stage for a closely contested encounter. Still, we predict Manchester United will beat Fulham 2-1 and get their second win this week.
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