United travel to Craven Cottage needing a response to their Brighton collapse, with Fulham still searching for a first Premier League win under Álvaro Arbeloa.
Manchester United could do with a straightforward Sunday afternoon. After a derby defeat and a cup exit from two goals up, Michael Carrick takes his side to Fulham with just four points from the opening four Premier League games.
The 3-2 defeat against Brighton was particularly difficult to stomach. Shea Lacey and Mason Mount had United in control inside ten minutes, yet the pressing disappeared, the midfield lost its grip and a promising start became another miserable evening at Old Trafford.
Carrick has dismissed speculation about his position, but the players need to give him something better to discuss after this one. United have already dropped points from a winning position at Everton and cannot afford another afternoon of allowing an opponent back into the game.
Manchester United Team News
Luke Shaw and Carlos Baleba face late decisions over their involvement. Shaw has missed the last three matches, while Baleba is still waiting for his United debut after arriving with an ankle injury. Neither should be treated as a certain starter.
Amad, Matthijs de Ligt, Manuel Ugarte and Tom Heaton remain unavailable. United have no players suspended for the match.
Carrick is likely to restore several regular starters after rotating against Brighton. Senne Lammens, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martínez, Kobbie Mainoo, Bruno Fernandes and Matheus Cunha should all be in contention to return to the XI.
Lacey has earned further opportunities after his excellent first senior goal on Wednesday. Starting at Fulham would be a different assignment, though, and Bryan Mbeumo remains the likelier choice on the right. Mount’s goal was another encouraging moment, but Fernandes should return behind Benjamin Šeško.
Fulham Team News and Form
Fulham have taken one point from their opening four league matches, although their last two results should discourage any assumption that United are arriving at a convenient time.
Arbeloa’s side held Liverpool to a goalless draw at Anfield last weekend before winning 3-2 at West Ham in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday. Oscar Bobb scored the winner in the 78th minute to send them into the fourth round.
Their defending has been less convincing at home. Fulham lost both of their opening league games at Craven Cottage 3-2, against Chelsea and Crystal Palace. United should get opportunities, provided they move the ball with enough purpose to create them.
Kenny Tete is ruled out under concussion protocols, while Tom Cairney is also unavailable. Ryan Sessegnon could return, subject to a late fitness assessment. Timothy Castagne is an option to replace Tete at right-back.
Bobb, Alex Iwobi and Josh King offer enough creativity to punish loose defending. United’s full-backs will need help, particularly if Fulham can draw Mainoo and Youri Tielemans away from the centre.
Last 5 Results
Manchester United
| Date | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 16 September | Manchester United 2-3 Brighton | Carabao Cup |
| 13 September | Manchester United 0-1 Manchester City | Premier League |
| 10 September | Manchester United 4-0 Sabah | Champions League |
| 6 September | Everton 2-2 Manchester United | Premier League |
| 30 August | Manchester United 5-2 Ipswich Town | Premier League |
Fulham
| Date | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|
| 15 September | West Ham 2-3 Fulham | Carabao Cup |
| 12 September | Liverpool 0-0 Fulham | Premier League |
| 5 September | Fulham 2-3 Crystal Palace | Premier League |
| 30 August | Sunderland 1-0 Fulham | Premier League |
| 27 August | Fulham 3-0 AFC Wimbledon | Carabao Cup |
What United Need to Do
United have to sustain their intensity beyond the opening spell. Brighton were allowed to recover without having to survive much pressure after going two goals behind, and the space around United’s midfield became increasingly easy to exploit.
Mainoo and Tielemans need passing options close to them when Fulham press. Fernandes can help by dropping into midfield at the right moments, while Cunha’s movement inside should create combinations that bring Šeško into the game. Leaving the striker isolated and repeatedly conceding possession would invite another difficult afternoon.
The full-backs also need to judge when to go forward. Sending both up the pitch while the midfield is stretched would give Iwobi and Bobb opportunities to attack an exposed defence.
Paddock’s Thursday edition of Off the Bar covers the frustration surrounding United’s start. The Brighton defeat has made it harder to take encouragement from promising passages of football without seeing a complete performance.
If United get ahead, they need to keep offering a threat while staying organised behind the ball. Another early goal would count for little if the team immediately stopped doing the things that created it.
Predicted XI
Lammens;
Dalot, Maguire, Martínez, Mazraoui;
Mainoo, Tielemans;
Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha;
Šeško.
Predicted Score
Fulham’s results at Liverpool and West Ham suggest United will have to work for this. There should still be enough quality in the returning attackers to create chances against a defence that has conceded three in each of its home league games.
I’m backing United to edge it, with considerably more composure required if they take the lead.
Fulham 1-2 United.
