United travel to Fulham on Sunday evening in the Premier League; looking to record what would be only our third win in ten league games.
United tend to do well at Craven Cottage. We’re unbeaten in our last 8 visits, winning 7, but Fulham are in good form having lost just one of their previous 11 games in all competitions, drawing six and winning four.
They also sit 7 points and 3 places ahead of us in the Premier League. Make no mistake about it – this will be a tough match against good opposition.
Manchester United team news
United are facing defensive uncertainty ahead of the Fulham match.
Ruben Amorim is particularly concerned about Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro, who both experienced pain during the recent Europa League match against Rangers. Noussair Mazraoui was also left out of the matchday squad as a precaution after sustaining a knock in the previous Premier League game.
The manager said:
Leny has a pain and Mata [Matthijs] was a bruise from a touch. Leny was a little bit tired, he is playing more in this moment, so we have to be really careful and we will see. I don’t know.
Victor Lindelof has resumed training, but Luke Shaw remains unavailable even though he is set to start training with the team again. There are other ongoing injury concerns, with Jonny Evans and Mason Mount currently sidelined.
We’d expect Onana to return to the starting 11, although Amorim was coy when asked, simply explaning that United “have two keepers that both need time to play, and space in the team.”
Fulham team news
For Fulham, the team news is more straightforward. Manager Marco Silva has only two players ruled out: Kenny Tete with a knee injury and Reiss Nelson with a thigh problem.
Andreas Pereira could play against his former club, and Adama Traore, who scored in their recent 2-0 win against Leicester City, is available. Sander Berge has returned to good form, and the team appears relatively healthy for the upcoming 19:00 GMT match at Craven Cottage.
Predicted XI
Onana;
Mazraoui, Maguire, Martinez;
Amad, Ugarte, Mainoo, Dalot;
Fernandes, Garnacho;
Zirkzee.
Form Guide
Manchester United All Competitions Form:
D W W L W
Manchester United League Form:
L L D W L
Fulham All Competitions Form:
D D W L W
Fulham League Form:
W D D L W
Prediction
United are underdogs in this match according to the bookies. Fulham are a dangerous team with good players, and have claimed some big scalps already this season, including wins over Chelsea and Forest, and draws with Liverpool, Arsenal and Spurs.
We simply have to see an improvement on the Brighton performance – if we play like that again, we will lose.
There was some good play against Rangers in mid-week without being completely convincing, but this is a big step up in terms of the opponent’s quality, and Amorim has to get his selection and tactics spot on.
Predicted score: Fulham 1-1 Manchester United