Burkina Faso
Croatia
Czech Republic
Hungary
Indonesia
International Tournaments
Nigeria
Republic OF Ireland

Fulhamvs.Man Utd

sportsmole.co.uk, 24 January 2025, 16:08
In a rematch from the inaugural fixture of the 2024-25 Premier League season, Fulham and Manchester United renew hostilities at Craven Cottage on Sunday evening.

The Red Devils opened the curtain on the campaign by sinking Marco Silva's men 1-0 at Old Trafford in August, but the Cottagers head into the weekend's battle seven points better off in the top-flight standings.

Match preview

Joshua Zirkzee's debut Premier League goal to see off a dogged Fulham side feels like a long time ago now for Man United, whose delayed decision to give Erik ten Hag the boot and hire the much-coveted Ruben Amorim is yet to truly bear fruit.

Last weekend's battle of the juvenile head coaches saw 39-year-old Amorim conquered by 31-year-old Fabian Hurzeler, as the latter's Brighton & Hove Albion side left Old Trafford with a merited 3-1 victory to their name, subjecting Man United to a torturous 10th loss of the top-flight season in the process.

Entering the gameweek in a lowly 13th place in the table, Man United could drop as low as 15th spot if they fail to take care of business and results elsewhere do not go their way, and they also remain closer to the relegation zone than the top seven points-wise.

An unwanted personal record would be set for Amorim should the Red Devils come up short on Sunday, as the Portuguese has already suffered six top-flight losses since taking the Old Trafford reins; never in his embryonic managerial career has he lost seven league matches in a single campaign.

However, Sunday's visitors received a Bruno Fernandes-sized shot in the arm on Thursday evening, as Amorim's captain produced a heroic late intervention to sink Rangers in the Europa League, thus propelling the Red Devils to their third victory from their last four games in all tournaments.

Also harbouring realistic aspirations of competing in Europe's second-tier tournament next season, Fulham endeavour to slay Manchester United present after defeating Manchester United past last weekend, making light work of Ruud van Nistelrooy's Leicester City.

Emile Smith Rowe's brave diving header and Adama Traore's strike saw Fulham earn their first Premier League success of 2025 at the third time of asking, having previously come out on the wrong end of a 3-2 scoreline at West Ham United after a four-goal stalemate with Ipswich Town.

However, that reverse to the Hammers represents the Cottagers' only loss from their last 11 games in all tournaments, a steady sequence that has allowed them to cement a place in the top half of the Premier League standings, only four points shy of seventh-placed Bournemouth heading into the weekend.

Thanks to Smith Rowe and Traore's efforts at the King Power, Silva's men have now struck two goals in each of their last five Premier League matches, but converting one point into three is not always their forte; each of the hosts' last four top-flight home games has been drawn.

A stalemate would still be an improvement on Fulham's recent Craven Cottage results against Man United, who have triumphed on each of their last seven Premier League visits to the Cottagers' turf, last succumbing to defeat in 2009 when Damien Duff, Bobby Zamora and Danny Murphy were on the scoresheet.

Fulham Premier League form:

D

W

D

D

L

W

Fulham form (all competitions):

W

D

D

W

L

W

Manchester United Premier League form:

L

L

L

D

W

L

Manchester United form (all competitions):

L

D

W

W

L

W

Team News

Man United's midweek success over Rangers came at a considerable cost defensively, as neither Matthijs de Ligt nor Leny Yoro made it to the hour mark, and Amorim could not guarantee that the pair would be fit for Sunday when questioned in his pre-game press conference.

Mason Mount (leg), Jonny Evans (muscle) and Luke Shaw (hamstring) are still unavailable, but Victor Lindelof is back in training, while Noussair Mazraoui is expected to make the cut after sitting out the Europa League win as a precaution.

The Moroccan might be required in Amorim's back three as opposed to his favoured wing-back role if neither Yoro nor De Ligt are given the green light to feature, while Andre Onana should displace Altay Bayindir in goal, despite making his third error leading to a goal of the season in the Brighton beating.

Meanwhile, it is as you were in the Fulham infirmary, as only Dutch defender Kenny Tete (knee) and Arsenal loanee Reiss Nelson (hamstring) are absent for the hosts this week.

Midfield fulcrum Sasa Lukic is walking a tightrope, though, as one more booking would bring up 10 for the season and a subsequent two-game ban, ruling him out of contests with Newcastle United and Nottingham Forest.

Tom Cairney, Harrison Reed and 18-year-old protege Josh King are all alternative options in the centre, but the only change Silva might consider is out wide, where Traore is pushing to displace Alex Iwobi after doing so at half time against Leicester.

Fulham possible starting lineup:

Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Lukic; Wilson, Smith Rowe, Traore; Jimenez

Manchester United possible starting lineup:

Onana; Mazraoui, Maguire, Martinez; Diallo, Ugarte, Mainoo, Dalot; Fernandes, Garnacho; Hojlund

We say: Fulham 2-2 Manchester United

Clean sheet-less in 13 games across all competitions, Man United's defensive efforts are likely to prove futile against a Fulham side averaging 1.6 goals per game, their best in a Premier League season on record.

Written by

Ben Knapton

Previews by email
Show more

Top News

31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United star Marcus Rashford is reportedly wanted by Aston Villa before the end of the window. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich attacker Mathys Tel has reportedly rejected an approach from Tottenham Hotspur. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Wolverhampton Wanderers and Aston Villa lock horns at Molineux for a West Midlands derby in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United star Marcus Rashford has reportedly rejected a move to Tottenham Hotspur in favour of a switch to Barcelona. 31 January 2025 talksport.com Aston Villa are exploring a move to sign Marcus Rashford, talkSPORT understands. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City have reportedly renewed talks with Juventus over the signing of Andrea Cambiaso. 31 January 2025 talksport.com Stuart Armstrong's Major League Soccer (MLS) adventure is over after just 150 days after securing a move to Sheffield Wednesday. 31 January 2025 talksport.com Manchester United have 'agreed a deal' to sign wonderkid Geovany Quenda from Sporting CP. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City head coach Pep Guardiola will have all three of his new signings back at his disposal for Sunday's Premier League battle with Arsenal at the Emirates. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Friends become foes for 90 minutes once again on Sunday afternoon, as Mikel Arteta's Arsenal host Pep Guardiola's Manchester City in a mouthwatering Premier League main event. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United have reportedly stepped up their efforts to offload Casemiro this month. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Leicester City are reportedly interested in Brighton & Hove Albion defender Tariq Lamptey. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Al-Nassr have reportedly ended their pursuit of Brighton & Hove Albion attacker Kaoru Mitoma. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Looking to keep their faint hopes of winning the top-tier title alive, Marseille will welcome Lyon to Stade Velodrome for a Ligue 1 clash on Sunday afternoon. 31 January 2025 talksport.com Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca gave a blunt response when asked about recalling Kepa Arrizabalaga from his loan spell at Bournemouth. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The standout fixture on matchday 22 in the Eredivisie will come from the Johan Cruijff ArenA where Ajax will be playing host to Feyenoord on Sunday afternoon. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Everton welcome relegation rivals Leicester City to Goodison Park in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The two worst performers of the 2024-25 Premier League season so far go in search of a rare victory on Saturday afternoon, as 19th-placed Ipswich Town host basement boys Southampton at Portman Road. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Boasting two of the Premier League's three longest unbeaten runs at this moment in time, Bournemouth and Liverpool meet in a mouthwatering Premier League clash at the Vitality Stadium on Saturday afternoon. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Aston Villa head coach Unai Emery has revealed that Ollie Watkins has reiterated his commitment to the club. 31 January 2025 talksport.com As if facing Real Madrid to save your Champions League campaign isn't enough, Manchester City also face a nightmare Premier League run in what is looking to be a February from hell. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United will be aiming for back-to-back Premier League victories when Crystal Palace visit the Theatre of Dreams on Sunday afternoon. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Crystal Palace are prepared to be without the services of a first-team defender for the remainder of the campaign due to a serious knee injury. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are prepared to deploy youngster Kobbie Mainoo in an advanced role during Sunday afternoon's Premier League battle with Crystal Palace. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are reportedly yet to give the green light to a loan exit for defender Axel Disasi. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Looking to record their fourth straight win across all competitions, Manchester United will welcome Crystal Palace to Old Trafford in the Premier League on Sunday afternoon. 31 January 2025 talksport.com Brighton have rejected a second offer worth £75million from Al-Nassr for winger Kaoru Mitoma. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Two sides at opposite ends of the Scottish Premiership table are set to meet on Sunday afternoon when title hopefuls Rangers host relegation-threatened Ross County at Ibrox Stadium. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Kike Garcia will be aiming to move into double figures in terms of La Liga goals this season when Alaves head to Barcelona on Sunday. 31 January 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Robert Lewandowski will be looking to continue his excellent form against Alaves when Barcelona welcome the Basque side in La Liga on Sunday.