Man Utd head to Fulham needing to stop the rot – all to know

Man United have won only one league game this season, leaving Michael Carrick under pressure ahead of Fulham trip.

Who: Fulham vs Manchester United
What: English Premier League
Where: Craven Cottage, London in United Kingdom
When: Sunday, September ۲۰, at ۴:۳۰pm (۱۵:۳۰ GMT)
How to follow: Al Jazeera Sport will have all the build-up to our live text commentary stream from ۱۲:۳۰ GMT.

One month into the new ‌Premier League season, excuses about bedding-in processes and newly assembled squads needing time to gel are wearing thin and for Manchester United ⁠there is an acute sense ⁠of urgency as the international break looms.

United are by no means the only ‘big club’ enduring a faltering start to the campaign but after so much pre-season optimism, the spotlight has fallen very much on manager Michael Carrick ahead of ⁠Sunday’s trip to Fulham.

Al Jazeera takes a closer look at the game:

How have Manchester United started the new season?

United have ⁠lost three of their six matches in all competitions and suffered a damaging League Cup exit on Wednesday, surrendering a ۲-۰ ⁠lead to Brighton & Hove Albion.

Their only win in four league games came at home to promoted Ipswich Town.

United started the better in the VAR-dominated Manchester derby last Sunday, but played second fiddle to the away team after City were reduced to ten men.

How have Fulham started the new season?

The London club have made a slow start under new manager Alvaro Arbeloa and are yet to win in the league.

A draw at Liverpool last week and a League Cup win at West Ham United in midweek offered glimpses of better things to come.

What has Carrick said about United’s start to the season?

Carrick accepted responsibility for the team’s poor start but said the focus must remain on finding ⁠solutions rather than assigning blame.

“It’s my responsibility and I’m fine with that. It’s not a blame ⁠game. Blame me, no problem, but it’s ⁠not about blaming people,” said the ۴۵-year-old boss.

“It’s about finding solutions. It’s a whole collective thing. It’s about what you focus on. I know where we want to get to ‌and we want to get there fast.”

What happened the last time Fulham played Man Utd?

United won ۳-۲ in their last meeting which came in the Premier League at Old Trafford on February ۱.

Casemiro and Matheus Cunha put United two up before a chaotic finale that saw Raul Jiminez net an ۸۵th minute penalty for the Londoners before Benjamin Sesko and Kevin traded injury time strikes.

What happened between Fulham and Man Utd at Craven Cottage last season?

The teams shared a ۱-۱ draw in the Premier League match. Emile Smith Rowe’s ۷۳rd minute goal levelled matters after Rodrigo Muniz put through his own net in the ۵۸th minute.

When did Fulham last beat Manchester United?

Fulham won ۲-۱ at Old Trafford in the Premier League on February ۲۴, ۲۰۲۴. Harry Maguire appeared to have sealed a point for United in the ۹۰th minute when he cancelled out Calvin Bassey’s ۶۵th minute goal, but Alex Iwobi got Fulham’s winner in injury time.

United have won three of the five meetings since then.

When did Fulham last beat Man Utd at Craven Cottage?

Fulham have not recorded a home win against United since December ۲۰۰۹. Danny Murphy, Bobby Zamora and Damien Duff sealing a ۳-۰ home win.

Of the ۱۰ matches since then, United have won nine, scoring ۲۱ and conceding six.

Prediction: Fulham vs Manchester United

Opta’s supercomputer has given Manchester United a ۴۷.۴ percent chance of winning, while offering Fulham only a ۲۸.۳ percent chance of victory.

Head-to-head: Fulham vs Manchester United

This will be their ۹۴th meeting, with Manchester United winning ۵۹ of the encounters and Fulham ۱۴.

Fulham team news

Kenny Tete misses out due to concussion at Anfield last week.

Tom Cairney is also absent with a knee injury, but Ryan Sessegnon will have a late fitness test as he returns from a groin problem.

Predicted Fulham lineup

Leno; Castagne, Affengruber, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Charles; Bobb, King, Iwobi; Garcia

Manchester United team news

United will make a late decision on whether to include Luke Shaw and Carlos ‌Baleba ‌in the squad. Both have had ankle problems, but could feature.

Manuel Ugarte, Tom Heaton, Matthijs de Ligt and Amad Diallo all remain sidelined with injuries.

Predicted Manchester United lineup

Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Mainoo, Tielemans; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko