Fulham v Manchester United Preview: Crucial early season game for Carrick’s side

“What the f******g hell was that?”

United fans chanted at their own players as they left the pitch on Wednesday night.

The atmosphere turned toxic as De Cuyper completed Brighton’s comeback, the first time in 50 years that United had thrown away a 2-0 lead at Old Trafford. 

Some players clapped for the few fans who remained after full time.

Most walked off with their heads held low. 

In truth, it was a chastening night for Carrick. Embarrassing, even. But the problems run deeper than a Carabao Cup third round exit.

After an underwhelming start to the season, United sit thirteenth after four games. Their two wins this season have been against promoted Ipswich and Champions League newbies Sabah.

In fairness to the United manager, his side have suffered some bad luck. 

Who would have thought that Maitland-Niles had a 25-yarder in his locker? Or that VAR could forget the rules of the game that they were supposed to implement? 

And now this week, the JJ Gabriel debacle has done little to shake off the sense of chaos at the club. 

The reality is that Sunday’s game at Craven Cottage is absolutely a must-win.

But Fulham will smell blood.

Arbeloa’s team have suffered a similarly poor start to the season.

It was always going to be a difficult task to follow Marco Silva, who was rewarded with the Benfica job after establishing Fulham as a Premier League mainstay.

But the Spaniard undoubtedly would have hoped for a better start to his reign, with his team sitting eighteenth with one point from four games.

There are signs, however, that it is beginning to look a little brighter in west London.

A draw at Anfield in their last game was no mean feat, even if Liverpool are faltering a bit themselves.

Unlike United, Fulham have progressed to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, albeit having beaten non-Premier League opposition along the way.

The Cottagers now have a great opportunity to put the nail in the coffin of a vulnerable United side. 

Team news

Fulham’s injury problems are relatively light, with Cairney and Sessegnon recovering from thigh and groin strains respectively. 

United have significant injury issues in central midfield, with Ugarte out for most of the season and new signing Baleba not expected to play until mid-October.

Amad is scheduled to return around the same time as Baleba as he nurses an ankle injury, while, defensively, Shaw and De Ligt continue to work on their recovery. 

Predicted line-ups

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

Manchester United: Lammens; Mazraoui; Maguire; Martinez; Dorgu; Mainoo; Tielemans; Mbeumo; Fernandes; Cunha; Sesko