Manchester United will be desperate for all three points when they take on Fulham at Craven Cottage on Saturday.
The 2023/24 Premier League season will resume this weekend with Gameweek 10. The latest round of fixtures will get underway at Craven Cottage, where Fulham will host Manchester United, with both teams eager to embark on a winning run.
Fulham had been bound to struggle in the 2023/24 season after Aleksandar Mitrovic’s departure. The Serbian striker has left a gaping hole in the first-team squad at Craven Cottage, with the Cottagers managing only nine strikes in ten Premier League games thus far. The poor start has left them teetering at 14th on the table. But Marco Silva’s men head into the game after progressing in the EFL Cup by clinching a 3-1 win over Ipswich Town.
Manchester United have also endured a disappointing 2023/24 campaign thus far. The Red Devils have lost more games (8) than they have won (7) in 15 outings across all competitions. The latest defeat came in the EFL Cup, with Newcastle United handing them a 3-0 loss, their second successive loss by that exact scoreline at Old Trafford. So, the pressure is mounting on Erik ten Hag, who will cost a pretty penny if Manchester United sack him.
Fulham scored exactly once in the three games between them and Manchester United last season. The two Premier League clashes ended 2-1 in favour of the Red Devils, who also won 3-1 in the FA Cup quarter-finals. The Hard Tackle takes a closer look at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Fulham
Ipswich (A) – ✅
Man Utd (H) – ❔#FULMUN pic.twitter.com/VHckdeOof9— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) November 3, 2023
Marco Silva has seen his squad’s fitness issues reduce this week, receiving two positive updates on the team news front. Against Manchester United on Saturday, the Fulham manager will be bereft of the services of two first-team players.
Kenny Tete (knock) and Adama Traore (thigh) have stepped up their rehabilitation programs and face late fitness tests to determine their availability. But Tosin Adarabioyo (groin) and Issa Diop (foot) remain on the sidelines.
Diop’s absence means Calvin Bassey gets a long run in the starting eleven. The summer signing will form the central defensive partnership alongside Tim Ream, with Timothy Castagne and Antonee Robinson being the two full-backs. Meanwhile, there is no looking past Bernd Leno in the goal, with Fulham lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him.
As for the midfield unit, Harrison Reed and Joao Palhinha will pair up in the double pivot. The duo will look to keep things tight in the middle of the park and frustrate Bruno Fernandes. Meanwhile, Andreas Pereira will reprise his usual no. 10 role, with Willian and Alex Iwobi being the two wide attackers. Finally, Rodrigo Muniz should spearhead the Fulham attack against Manchester United.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Ream, Bassey, Robinson; Reed, Palhinha; Willian, Pereira, Iwobi; Muniz
Manchester United
Unlike his counterpart in the Fulham dugout, Erik ten Hag has a few pressing issues hampering his preparations ahead of the trip to Craven Cottage. The Manchester United manager will be without six first-team players on Saturday.
Jadon Sancho remains on the sidelines due to his indefinite exile after his bust-up with Erik ten Hag. But recent reports have suggested that the Dutchman’s handling of the issue has rubbed the Manchester United squad the wrong way.
Casemiro is the latest absentee, with the Brazilian international set to miss several weeks of action. Luke Shaw (muscle), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Lisandro Martinez (foot), and Amad Diallo (knee) remain in the treatment room and are no closer to returning. Meanwhile, recent reports have claimed that Raphael Varane is not a happy camper at Manchester United.
ℹ️ @Casemiro has been ruled out for several weeks.#MUFC
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 3, 2023
So, the Frenchman might miss out again, with Harry Maguire and Jonny Evans forming the central defensive partnership. But Sergio Reguilon and Aaron Wan-Bissaka should reinforce the full-back spots after the wide areas faced a chastening against Manchester City. The quartet will protect Andre Onana.
As for the midfield unit, ten Hag’s need to carefully consider his decision. The department has lacked conviction thus far. But the Dutchman might keep faith in Scott Mctominay and Sofyan Amrabat, even though the latter has not produced many impressive performances.
Bruno Fernandes has been under fire for his recent antics. But the Manchester United captain will retain his spot and reprise the no. 10 role, with Antony and Marcus Rashford being the two wide attackers. Finally, Rasmus Hojlund will lead the line for the away side on Saturday.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Onana; Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Evans, Reguilon; McTominay, Amrabat; Antony, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford; Hojlund
Key Stats
- Since winning back-to-back Premier League games against Manchester United in March and December 2009, Fulham are now winless in their last 15 against them. The Red Devils have won their last six Premier League away games against Fulham. Only at West Bromwich Albion (eight times between 1984 and 2011) have they won more consecutively at an opponent.
- Fulham have not scored a first-half goal in a league match at Craven Cottage thus far this campaign. Unsurprisingly, their first-half record is the worst in the division, with Manchester United 18th.
- Fulham rank joint sixth for the fewest shots faced this season in the Premier League (125) but sixth for the most shots on target faced.
- Manchester United have lost five of their 10 Premier League games this season and have a goal difference of -5. It is their most defeats after ten outings of a top-flight season since 1986/87, while it is their lowest goal difference at this stage since 1972/73.
- Manchester United have won just one of their last 11 league games in London, although that was at Craven Cottage last November.
Player to Watch
Bruno Fernandes
Very few would have objected to Bruno Fernandes inheriting the Manchester United captaincy from Harry Maguire ahead of the 2023/24 season. But the Portuguese international tends to show his worst side when things are going awry for his team.
That was the case last weekend after Manchester City beat Manchester United 3-0, with Roy Keane telling Erik ten Hag to strip the 29-year-old of the captain’s armband. But Fernandes remains in the position and will be eager to prove his naysayers wrong while inspiring a comeback run from his team. It all starts on Saturday.
Prediction
Fulham 1-2 Manchester United
Fulham and Manchester United have struggled to consistently score goals this season. At the same time, their defensive units have been vulnerable in the first ten rounds of fixture. So, while Saturday’s game might not be a goal-fest, both teams should find the back of the net.
The tie has all the makings of becoming a smash-and-grab affair. The final result will thus hinge on individual quality, which might swing the pendulum in Manchester United’s favour. The Hard Tackle predicts the Red Devils to struggle again but somehow manage a comeback 2-1 victory at Craven Cottage.
