Manchester United vs Fulham match preview, analysis, H2H, possible line-ups

The Red Devils would want to end their 2022/23 campaign on a high after securing their return to Champions League football on Thursday night with a massive 4-1 win over Chelsea which helped them move up to third position, two points ahead of Newcastle’s 70 and six ahead of Liverpool’s 66.

Previously, a 1-0 away victory over Bournemouth at the Vitality Stadium this past Saturday had helped almost seal a top-four finish for United who were previously tailed by Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool. This result was synergized with Liverpool being held to a 1-1 draw by Aston Villa at Anfield.

Casemiro’s goal handed the EFL Champions the win and almost their berth in Europe’s top-class next season.

A short string of unsatisfactory results saw the pressure from Liverpool and Tottenham mount on the Carabao Cup Champions. United had previously dropped eight points in four games, taking only a win and a draw from those.

A 2-2 draw to Tottenham and 1-0 defeats to both Brighton and West Ham saw the former duo breathing down their necks, especially Liverpool. But thanks to three consecutive wins, 2-0 over Wolves, 1-0 against Bournemouth and 4-1 against Chelsea, United feel a lot better about themselves.

With 72 points in 37 games, United can flex their muscles for the tie on Sunday having gotten reinstated to Europe’s first class.

The Red Devils would look to produce the same aura they did at the Old Trafford on Thursday night. Casemiro got on the scoresheet in the opening six minutes with a fine header, with Anthony Martial doubling just before halftime, tapping home Jadon Sancho’s cross. Bruno Fernandes pocketed home his penalty thirteen minutes past the hour-mark after he had been brought down by Wesley Fofana and United got their fourth of the night, capitalizing on a defence error from The Blues and with Rashford finishing off the chance even though João Félix handed the visitors a consolation strike late on with a fine strike from about 18 yards.

Fulham are just behind the race for the UEFA Conference League. Marco Silva’s men have acquired 52 points to the good from 37 games. They trail the trio of Aston Villa(58) Tottenham(57) and Brentford(56), all three within one point of one another. The Cottagers who sit in ninth have an eight-point advantage over tenth-placed Crystal Palace(44 points).

Fulham recorded a 2-2 draw at home to Crystal Palace over the weekend. Odsonne Edóuard scored the opener four minutes beyond the opening half hour before Aleksandar Mitrovíc equalised from the penalty spot on the brink of halftime. The Serbian forward doubled from Willian’s cross a minute past the hour mark but Joel Ward earned the visitors an equaliser with a late strike.

Everything appears to be a done deal for The Lilywhites. Lose, win or draw, Fulham are going to replicate their 2011/12 Premier League finish where they ended 9th with 52 points in 38 games.

The 2021/22 EFL Championship winners blew their chances of making Europe in their last meeting in the Premier League with a poor run of form against the likes of Liverpool and City. Taking not a single point from three consecutive fixtures before recording two wins against Leicester City, Southampton and a draw against Crystal Palace, ensured The Lilywhites didn’t secure appearance in Europe for the fourth time in the club’s history. The Cottagers had recorded three losses, 1-0 to Aston Villa, 2-1 to Manchester City and 1-0 to Liverpool within the space of eight days days before returning to winning ways against The Foxes four days later.

Nonetheless, The Cottagers are ending their Premier League returning season on a high thanks to the goalscoring services of Aleksandar Mitrovíc. The forward has scored 14 goals in 24 appearances in England’s topflight competition this term, his highest tally ever in the Premier League.

Fulham got red-carded thrice within the space of three minutes.

A journey to the Old Trafford doesn’t particularly dig up pleasant memories for Marco Silva’s men where they recorded a 3-1 defeat in the FA Cup two months ago. Aleksandar Mitrovíc opened the scoring with a strike from close-up five minutes into the second half but a handball incident about 22 minutes later which culminated in a penalty and three red cards for Marco Silva, Mitrovíc and Willian saw the game turn on its head with Bruno Fernandes bagging a brace and Marcel Sabitzer scoring his first goal for The Red Devils.

Manchester United vs Fulham key stats

• Manchester United are unbeaten in their past 16 games against Fulham in all competitions. Their last defeat to the Cottagers came in the Premier League, a 3-0 loss on December 16, 2009.

• Fulham have always found the back of the net in the past six times they’ve travelled to the Old Trafford.
• The Red Devils are unbeaten in the past 28 games at the Old Trafford, last conceding defeat to Real Sociedad in their opening Europa League group fixture on September 8.

• Ten Hag’s men have only lost twice on home soil this season, 2-1 to Brighton and 1-0 to Real Sociedad.

• In eight games managed against the Red Devils, Marco Silva has won twice, drawn once and lost five times; including both ties as Fulham’s manager.
• The last time Fulham beat United at the Old Trafford was October 25, 2003, 3-1 in the Premier League. Fifteen more home games have been played by The Red Devils against The Cottagers till date.
• Marco Silva’s men are unbeaten in their past three Premier League matches.
• Aleksandar Mitrovic has netted thrice in the past two EPL outings for Fulham.
• The Serbian striker was sent off the last time he visited the Old Trafford. Fulham had their manager(Marco Silva) and two players(Mitrovíc and Willian) sent off in that match.

Manchester United vs Fulham H2H and form:

Games played: 88

Manchester United: 54 wins

Fulham: 14 wins

Games drawn: 20

Past five meetings:

Fulham 0-3 Manchester United (09-02-2019)

Fulham 1-2 Manchester United (20-01-2021)

Manchester United 1-1 Fulham (18-05-2021)

Fulham 1-2 Manchester United (13-11-2022)

Manchester United 3-1 Fulham (19-03-2023)

Manchester United: 4 wins, 1 draw

Fulham: 1 draw, 4 losses

Manchester United: 3rd in the Premier League, 72 points, 22-6-9

Fulham: 10th in the Premier League, 52 points, 15-7-15

Past five EPL fixtures:

Manchester United:

(A) 0-1 Brighton

(A) 0-1 West Ham

(H) 2-0 Wolves

(A) 1-0 Bournemouth

(H) Chelsea

Form: LLWWW

Fulham:

(H) 1-2 Manchester City

(A) 0-1 Liverpool

(H) 5-3 Leicester City

(A) 2-0 Southampton

(H) 2-2 Crystal Palace

Form: LLWWD

Manchester United vs Fulham key players:

Casemiro

The Brazilian midfielder is on fire for The Red Devils.

Has been on fire for Produced a fine performance at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday. Scored a beautiful acrobatic from Eriksen’s pin-point pass into the box. Also opened the scoring against Chelsea during the week with a brilliant header before playing a key role in the lead up to Anthony Martial’s goal. The defensive midfielder has made a total of 1287 passes in the Premier League this season with 1014 of those being successful. The Brazilian averages 46.32 passes completed per game ahead of Kevin De Bruyne’s 40.49 and not too far off the Belgian’s 1091 in 1348 passes

Aleksandar Mitrovíc:
The Serbian striker is the key reason Fulham are in the top-half of the table this season. His prowess, aggression and precision in front of goal have earned him 14 strikes in 23 games this season. The 28-year old has scored three goals in Fulham’s past two games, earning his side a win and a draw respectively. Mitrovíc has mustered 34 shots on target from a total of 73 shots taken in the Premier League this season, 1.58 per game which places him in the 99th percentile of shot precision. He is estimated to take 3.39 shots every 90 minutes.

Manchester United vs Fulham injuries and suspensions:

Manchester United:

To add to the already-injured list consisting of Tom Heaton, Donny Van De Beek, Lisandro Martínez, Scott McTominay, Phil Jones and Marcel Sabitzer, United would be without Antony for Sunday’s final league fixture against Fulham.

The Brazilian winger didn’t last half-a-hour in the match against rivals, Chelsea and had to be taken off with an ankle injury.

The winger sustained a serious ankle injury in the victory over Chelsea on Thursday and would miss the club’s season-ending fixture.

Fulham:

Fulham have no fresh injury concerns. The quartet of Dani James, Tim Ream, Andreas Pereira and Layvin Kurzawa remain sidelined for Marco Silva’s side.

Possible line-ups:

Manchester United:

We should see Rashford step in for the injured Antony. That asides, Ten Hag should retain his starting line-up from the 4-1 win over Chelsea.

4-2-3-1: DeGea, Shaw, Lindelöf, Varane, Wan-Bissaka, Eriksen, Casemiro, Sancho, Fernandes, Rashford, Martial.

Fulham:

4-2-3-1: Leno, Robinson, Diop, Adarabioyo, Tete, Palhinha, Reed, Willian, Cairney, Wilson, Mitrovíc.