Manchester United travels to Craven Cottage to face Fulham in the Premier League, aiming for a second consecutive win. While their Europa League victory over Rangers was a boost, United's league form remains inconsistent. This match presents several key storylines, including defensive concerns, Fulham's strong performance, potential late drama, and the striker conundrum.
Manchester United will be looking to secure their second consecutive victory when they face Fulham in the Premier League at Craven Cottage this evening. The Red Devils will travel to the capital aiming to build on their dramatic 2-1 Europa League win over Rangers on Thursday night, where Bruno Fernandes scored a 92nd-minute winner to put United on the verge of reaching the last 16 of the competition.
However, before they can focus on their European campaign in Romania on Thursday, returning to Premier League action and securing their first away league win since beating Manchester City six weeks ago takes priority. United have struggled in the league under head coach Ruben Amorim, winning just three of their first 11 matches and losing four of their last six. There are several key points to watch out for at Craven Cottage this evening. Firstly, the situation at the back remains a concern. Both Matthijs de Ligt and Leny Yoro were forced off against Rangers as a precaution due to injuries. De Ligt did not reappear for the second half, while Yoro was withdrawn with 55 minutes on the clock. United finished the game with a makeshift back-three of Diogo Dalot, who had started at left wing-back, Harry Maguire, who replaced De Ligt at half-time, and Lisandro Martinez, recalled to the starting XI after being given a rare rest against Brighton & Hove Albion. The Red Devils have started with a different back-three in three of their last four matches, highlighting the need for consistency at the back. De Ligt, Maguire, and Martinez started the impressive away performances against Arsenal and Liverpool and should be considered as a starting trio again if the former is fit enough to play. Andre Onana will also be hoping to return in goal after making way for Altay Bayindir in midweek. Amorim explained that the change was purely rotational, as Onana had made a costly error against Brighton last weekend.Fulham, who are currently enjoying a fine season, cannot be underestimated. They are sitting in 10th place in the table, seven points ahead of United. Marco Silva's men have lost just one of their last 10 league matches and are unbeaten at home in their last six league and cup games. Fulham have been incredibly consistent in front of goal this season, failing to score in just two of their first 22 league games. One of those blanks was against United on the opening night of the season back in August. Only Liverpool (one) have failed to score in fewer league games than Fulham this season, indicating that United will need to be at their best defensively to secure just their second clean sheet under Amorim.United will be hoping to avoid another late drama scenario after their victories against Southampton and Rangers were secured by very late goals. Amad scored in the 90th and 94th minutes against the Saints, while Fernandes struck with 92 minutes on the clock against Rangers. However, both United and Fulham have contributed to their fair share of late drama in recent meetings. Joshua Zirkzee's 87th-minute winner on the opening night of the season could be considered an early goal in that context. Fulham beat United 2-1 at Old Trafford last season via a 97th-minute winner from Alex Iwobi, just under four months after Fernandes scored a 91st-minute winner for the Reds in the reverse meeting at Craven Cottage, sealing a 1-0 win. United also beat Fulham with an injury-time goal at Craven Cottage in November 2022 when Alejandro Garnacho scored his first Premier League goal to seal a 2-1 triumph with 93 minutes played. The ongoing debate about who should start up front between Rasmus Hojlund and Zirkzee highlights just how desperately United need to sign a striker before the transfer window closes. They have scored a meager 11 goals between them this season (five in the Premier League) and neither have found the back of the net in any of United's last eight matches. Zirkzee was the last to score, netting in the 4-3 Carabao Cup quarter-final defeat to Tottenham Hotspur. Zirkzee has started the last two games and offered more to United's overall play than Hojlund has when he has recently been given the nod. Neither player is currently a reliable option but Amorim will have to choose one of them to lead the line.Finally, the kick-off time for the match is unusual. For the second time in two weeks, United play in the capital on a Sunday, but this time the kick-off is four hours later than usual. Due to TNT Sports not broadcasting a Premier League game in their traditional 12.30pm slot on Saturday lunchtime, United's clash with Fulham will be screened live at 7pm on Sunday evening.
MANCHESTER UNITED FULHAM PREMIER LEAGUE RANGERS BRUNO FERNANDES MATTHIJS DE LIGT LENY YORO ANDRE ONANA RASMUS HOJLUND JOSHUA ZIRKZE MARCO SILVA CRAVEN COTTAGE LATE GOALS
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Fulham vs Manchester United: Premier League preview, team news, stats & head-to-headFollow live text commentary, score updates and match stats from Fulham vs Manchester United in the Premier League
Read more »
Manchester United vs Fulham Kick-Off Moved to Sunday Night Due to Europa League MatchDue to Manchester United's Europa League fixture, their Premier League match against Fulham has been shifted from Saturday to Sunday evening at 7 pm. This change reflects the Premier League's commitment to player recovery and addresses concerns regarding fatigue following European matches. The decision has sparked debate regarding the frequency of Sunday evening kick-offs, with fans' groups criticizing the limited public transport options and impact on families.
Read more »
Manchester United Predicted XI vs Fulham: Onana, Garnacho, and Zirkzee for Premier League ClashManchester United are aiming to bounce back from their recent Premier League defeat against Brighton when they face Fulham. See the predicted lineup and key talking points for the match.
Read more »
Manchester United vs Newcastle United: Premier League preview, team news, stats & head-to-headFollow live text commentary, score updates and match stats from Manchester United vs Newcastle United in the Premier League
Read more »
Newcastle United Face Manchester United in Premier League ClashNewcastle United travels to Old Trafford to face a struggling Manchester United team in a crucial Premier League match. The Magpies are looking to continue their impressive form, while United seeks to end their recent struggles.
Read more »
Manchester United vs Newcastle United: How to Watch Premier League ClashManchester United face Newcastle United in a crucial Premier League match on Monday night, seeking to bounce back from a three-game losing streak.
Read more »