Fulham and Manchester United will aim to build on their recent wins when they face off at Craven Cottage on Sunday.
The curtains will fall on Gameweek 23 of the 2024/25 season on Sunday. The action on the day will start with two simultaneous games and end with Fulham vs Manchester United at Craven Cottage.
Marco Silva continues to wield his magic at Fulham, with the West London club looking good to clinch a top-half finish this season. Only three teams have lost fewer games than the Cottagers, although they have drawn more games than they have won thus far. The home side’s recent form has been impressive, with Silva’s men losing only one of their last nine games across all competitions.
On the other hand, stability continues to elude Manchester United. The Red Devils seemed to be turning a corner after impressive results against Liverpool and Arsenal. However, a lucky win over Southampton followed a 3-1 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion last weekend. But Ruben Amorim’s men bounced back to winning ways with a nervy victory over Rangers this week.
The reverse fixture came on the opening weekend of the 2024/25 Premier League season, with Manchester United beating Fulham 1-0 in a game that saw Joshua Zirkzee find the back of the net on his debut. The Hard Tackle looks closer at the encounter ahead of the latest meeting between the two sides.
Team News & Tactics
Fulham
Marco Silva does not have any new injury concerns hampering his preparations ahead of his side’s latest fixture. The Fulham manager will be bereft of the services of two first-team players vs Manchester United on Sunday.
Kenny Tete (knee) and Reiss Nelson (hamstring) remain on the sidelines, with the duo not close to returning yet. Meanwhile, Sasa Lukic will hope to avoid a booking as his next yellow card will be his tenth of the 2024/25 Premier League season, incurring him a two-match suspension.
Bernd Leno will take his spot between the sticks, with Fulham lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in front of him vs Manchester United on Sunday. The backline should feature Timothy Castagne, Joachim Andersen, Calvin Bassey, and Antonee Robinson.
As for the midfield unit, Sasa Lukic should pair up with Sander Berge in the double pivot, with the duo looking to keep things tight in the middle of the park. Emile Smith Rowe will reprise the no. 10 role, with Harry Wilson and Alex Iwobi being the two wide attackers. Finally, Raul Jimenez will lead the line for Fulham against Manchester United.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Lukic; Wilson, Smith Rowe, Iwobi; Jimenez
Manchester United
Like his counterpart in the Fulham dugout, Ruben Amorim does not have any new issues to worry about ahead of the trip to Craven Cottage. The Manchester United manager will be without three first-team players on Sunday.
Luke Shaw remains the most notable absentee due to a calf injury. The English international will accompany Jonny Evans (muscle) and Mason Mount (hamstring) on the sidelines. However, Victor Lindelof might be in the matchday squad after training this week.
Andre Onana is an automatic pick between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 3-4-2-1 formation in front of him vs Fulham on Sunday. The central defensive unit should feature Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire, and Lisandro Martinez, with Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot being the two wing-backs.
As for the midfield unit, Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo should pair up in the middle of the park for the away side. Finally, Rasmus Hojlund will spearhead the Manchester United attack against Fulham, with Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo completing the numbers in the offensive trifecta.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Onana; de Ligt, Maguire, Martinez; Mazraoui, Ugarte, Mainoo, Dalot; Amad, Bruno Fernandes; Hojlund
Key Stats
- Fulham’s solitary win in their last 18 Premier League games vs Manchester United at Old Trafford last season, with Alex Iwobi scoring a 97th-minute goal (D3 L14). The Red Devils are unbeaten in eight Premier League visits to Craven Cottage, winning their seven most recent clashes and drawing the other.
- Fulham have lost only one of their previous 11 games in all competitions (W4 D6). The Cottagers are unbeaten in six matches at Craven Cottage, winning two and drawing four since a 4-1 Premier League defeat by Wolverhampton Wanderers in November.
- Manchester United have lost only one of their last five games in all competitions (W2 D2). However, the Red Devils have suffered six defeats in their nine most recent Premier League matches.
- Fulham have scored in all but one of their 12 home matches this season, the exception coming against Southampton in late December.
- A defeat on Sunday would be Manchester United’s seventh in 12 Premier League outings under Ruben Amorim. The Portuguese manager has never lost more than six league games in a season. The Red Devils have kept only one clean sheet in their last 16 matches in all competitions, in a 4-0 home win over Everton in December.
Player to Watch
Bruno Fernandes
Amad Diallo and Alex Iwobi were viable candidates for this section, but we have picked Bruno Fernandes as our Player to Watch for Sunday’s games. The Manchester United captain often delivers the goods and was at his best earlier this week against Rangers.
With Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee blowing hot and cold, the onus is on Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo to deliver the goods for Manchester United. The Portuguese international has scored three goals in his last four appearances in all competitions. Ruben Amorim will hope his skipper continues his fine run this weekend.
Prediction
Fulham 2-1 Manchester United
Considering Fulham’s excellent scoring record at home and Manchester United’s struggles to keep a clean sheet, the home side should have a gala time in Sunday’s late clash at Craven Cottage. However, the Cottagers have also shown a soft underbelly, and Manchester United should trouble the scorers.
Bruno Fernandes should rise to the occasion again, with the Manchester United captain rising to the occasion. However, that might not be enough to earn the away side anything from Sunday’s game. The Hard Tackle predicts a 2-1 win for Marco Silva and his charges.
