Manchester United vs Fulham
Fulham are keen to build a new undefeated streak at the expense of another when they visit Old Trafford to take on Manchester United in their next Premier League match on Sunday afternoon.
Marco Silva’s men saw their six-game unbeaten run (across all competitions) end at the hands of Leeds United two weeks ago, but they quickly bounced back with a 2-1 win against Brighton at Craven Cottage. As a result, Fulham are in seventh place with 34 points, only three points adrift of fifth-seeded Chelsea.
They will face a buoyant Manchester United squad, who are enjoying the new manager’s bounce. Since Michael Carrick took over as interim head coach following the unceremonious departure of Ruben Amorim, the Red Devils have scored statement wins against Arsenal (3-2) and Manchester City (2-0) – the top two seeds in the English top-flight table.
This is one of the best games to watch this weekend, and SBOTOP has you covered with today’s preview.
Talking Points
Manchester United lose influential youngster
Patrick Dorgu’s hamstring injury is poor timing for Manchester United, as the 21-year-old winger has thrived under Michael Carrick. The Dane has been integral to the Red Devils’ recent turnaround, as Dorgu has started and scored against Manchester City and Arsenal, having played as the left-sided winger in Carrick’s 4-2-3-1 formation.
Dorgu’s blazing speed and work rate have always been there, but his clinical touch has won him several new fans. He just won the Premier League’s Player of the Matchweek award last weekend, claiming a massive 71-per cent of the votes.
With Dorgu out for at least 10 weeks, Manchester United have a massive void on the left wing. Carrick will likely have Matheus Cunha filling in, especially after the Brazilian forward scored the winner against the Gunners. Cunha will likely join Amad Diallo, Bruno Fernandes, and Bryan Mbeumo in the final third, with Benjamin Sesko likely coming off the bench.
Carrick will continue to roll with Kobbie Mainoo and Casemiro in the double pivot, and Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw, and Diogo Dalot (or Noussair Mazraoui) should make up their back four. Besides Dorgu, the Red Devils’ notable absentees also include Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee.
Fulham have reinforcements
Fulham have been fairly busy in the winter transfer window, as they sold Adama Traore to West Ham United in exchange for acquiring Oscar Bobb for £27 million. Bobb had been well regarded within Manchester City’s academy but hadn’t seen much time on the pitch under Pep Guardiola this term. He’ll likely get his playing time with the Cottagers.
With Rodrigo Muniz, Kenny Tete, and Sasa Lukic on the sidelines, Bobb could make his debut as soon as this Sunday. He’ll likely join Emile Smith Rowe, Raul Jimenez, and the red-hot Harry Wilson in the final third. Furthermore, the Cottagers have been boosted by the returns of Alex Iwobi, Calvin Bassey, and Samuel Chukwueze after AFCON duty, with Chukwueze on the scoresheet against the Seagulls.
History
Fulham drew 1-1 with Manchester United at Craven Cottage during the reverse fixture on Matchday 2, as Emile Smith Rowe scored a late equaliser after his teammate Rodrigo Muniz scored an own goal for the Red Devils near the hour mark.
A few months earlier, Fulham also recorded the same scoreline against Manchester United in the FA Cup fifth round, but won 4-3 via penalties after Bruno Fernandes cancelled out Calvin Bassey’s first-half score.
In terms of recent form, the Red Devils are unbeaten in their last six league games, while the Cottagers have three wins, two draws, and one loss during the same stretch.
Sunday marks the 97th meeting between these two sides. As expected, the Red Devils have a significant advantage in the head-to-heads with 58 victories, while the Cottagers recorded only 16 wins and 21 draws.
Betting Tip
The Premier League 2026 odds give Manchester United the edge against Fulham on Sunday, given their recent purple patch. The Red Devils are 1.53 favourites, whereas the Cottagers are 5.10 underdogs, and a draw is valued at 3.96 in the 1X2 market.
If Manchester United claim maximum points against Fulham this weekend, the Red Devils will surely earn them the hard way, and both teams will likely produce their fair share of Premier League 2026 highlights. Besides our recommended bet, bettors may want to add Over 2.50 at 1.67 and Over 2.75 at 1.92 for alternatives. On the other hand, the Correct Score of 1-1 – the result of their last two meetings in all competitions – offers a tidy payday of 7.60 your bet.
A SHORT EXPLANATION ON HOW OUR (⭐) BETS ARE WORTH:
⭐⭐⭐= €20 (HIGHLY CONFIDENT)
⭐⭐= €10 (CONFIDENT)
⭐= €5 (SOMEWHAT CONFIDENT)
Disclaimer: Odds are correct at time of publish.
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