At risk of being the worst version of Manchester United ever, a last-minute winner did move them closer to Europa League last-16 qualification in midweek – are things suddenly looking up for Rúben Amorim and his inconsistent crew?
By Karl Matchett
From midweek smiles to weekend reality checks
Probably it’s a bit early to be drawing such optimistic conclusions. While incremental improvements and stoppage time celebrations are all positive and lead to an uplift in morale, the brutal truth is United head to Fulham, hardly one of the Premier League’s superpowers, three places lower than them in the table and a full seven points adrift.
Amorim may spin it as one defeat in United’s last five, but in the top flight it’s still one win in six – and that came against the bottom club. Add in the fact that United have managed two wins in ten on the road this term and this isn’t likely to be an away day they relish in West London. Amorim still hasn’t worked out his strongest team, and while that’s fine considering the time he’s had at the club, a bigger issue is how vulnerable they look on the road. Only Bruno Fernandes has averaged two shots or more in away games this term and the team as a whole only has six open play goals away too.
Recent form
Fulham are the draw specialists recently. Four straight draws on home soil mean they’ve only lost two of 11 at Craven Cottage, but have also drawn nine of 22 in total – only Brighton have drawn more. Factoring in FA Cup as well as league, it’s just one defeat in 11 for the Cottagers, four of them wins – and they’ve played each of Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal in that period.
Go back to the opening day of the campaign, mind, and it was Man United who emerged triumphant as these two sides met – a late Joshua Zirkzee goal enough to earn Erik ten Hag three points. He didn’t get too many more thereafter.
Team news
Fulham are missing right-back Kenny Tete and squad winger Reiss Nelson, but are otherwise at full strength. Amorim is without Luke Shaw and Mason Mount as usual, while centre-backs Victor Lindelof and Jonny Evans are sidelined too. Everyone else is available, with some suggesting Altay Bayındır may have shown enough in Europe to get a chance in goal domestically.
Key player
Fulham make more accurate crosses per game than any other team in the league (6.2) and have been awarded the third-highest number of penalties (four). Add those two attacking traits together and what you get is a rejuvenated Raúl Jiménez, with eight goals this term from an xG of 8.1. He’s averaging 3.5 shots per 90, plus has created five big chances and has won 40 aerial duels – more than 85 per cent of strikers in the league. The Mexican finally looks like he’s back to near his old effective self and Fulham are reaping the rewards.
Prediction
More away day misery for United and Amorim. Fulham 2 United 1.
(Cover image from IMAGO)
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