Last updated & checked: 10/08/2021
Fulham welcome Manchester United to Craven Cottage on Saturday lunchtime looking for their second consecutive home victory in the Premier League. United are, of course, unbeaten in the league since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took over as manager in December. The Red Devils did have a 100% record in the Premier League under the Norwegian, but dropped points last week when they drew 2-2 with Burnley at Old Trafford.
United will feel that history is on their side too, as they have not lost in 10 Premier League games to Fulham, winning eight and drawing two of those matches. The Red Devils are also going in search of their sixth consecutive away victory in all competitions, a feat that they have not achieved since May 2009.
Fulham vs Manchester United Prediction: Cottagers 0-2 United
Our prediction for this game is that United will win comfortably, and a 2-0 scoreline looks like being about right. Claudio Ranieri has a real job on his hands if he wants to keep Fulham safe from relegation, and there have to be serious doubts about whether he has the personnel in his squad to be able to do it. United, in contrast, are now having genuine hopes that they can finish in the top four of the Premier League, an achievement which looked out of their reach just a few short weeks ago.
Our recommended tip: United 2-0
Our featured tip for this game comes courtesy of Paddy Power, who are offering odds of 7/1 on our prediction of a 2-0 win for the Red Devils turning out to be accurate. Those odds are pretty generous for a scoreline that looks likely to us, and you should be able to extract some pretty good value from a wager at that price. Fulham do not have sufficient quality to trouble United this weekend, and we anticipate a very comfortable afternoon for Solskjaer’s men. Fulham are also unlikely to score, in our opinion.
Previous matches
These two sides have met on 27 previous occasions in the Premier League, with United having won 19 of those games. Fulham have beaten United on just three occasions in the Premier League, with two of those victories coming at home. There have been five draws between the teams in the Premier League.
The most recent encounter between the sides came earlier this season, when Fulham travelled north to Old Trafford on December 8. United won 4-1. Ashley Young, Juan Mata, Romelu Lukaku and Marcus Rashford scored for United. Fulham’s goal came from an Aboubakar Kamara penalty in the 67th minute.
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Players to watch: Ryan Sessesgnon & Paul Pogba
Fulham midfielder Ryan Sessegnon has a lot of pressure on his shoulders for someone who is still a teenager. The 18-year-old England U-21 international is currently engaged in talks to extend his stay at Craven Cottage, something which highlights his importance to the team. In his 22 Premier League appearances this season he has scored two goals and provided five assists. He has also made an average of 19.73 passes per match and created four big chances in total.
French superstar Paul Pogba has looked like a completely different player since Solskjaer took over at Old Trafford. Now looking genuinely world class, and playing in a free role behind striker Marcus Rashford, Pogba offers plenty of threat to opposition defences. He has had a direct role in 17 goals for United in the Premier League in 2018/19, having scored nine and provided eight assists. He has also created six big chances and played 112 accurate long balls.
