Man Utd vs Fulham

The post-Amorim era at Manchester United couldn't have started with a more electric pulse. This afternoon, Sunday, February 1, 2026, interim manager Michael Carrick looks to secure his third consecutive victory as United hosts a resurgent Fulham at Old Trafford. Kick-off is set for 14:00 GMT.

Following a chaotic January that saw the departure of Ruben Amorim, Carrick has steered the ship with unexpected authority. After dismantling Manchester City 2–0 in the derby and ending Arsenal’s title charge with a 3–2 win at the Emirates last weekend, the Red Devils have climbed back into 4th place (38 points). However, they face a Fulham side (7th, 34 points) that is currently enjoying the best eight-game run in the club's Premier League history.

Match Information

Manchester United: Navigating the "Dorgu Loss"

The euphoria of the Arsenal win was dampened by the news that breakout star Patrick Dorgu—who scored a thunderbolt in North London—will miss roughly 10 weeks with a serious hamstring injury. His absence forces Carrick into his first major tactical reshuffle.

Team News and Selection:

• The Substitution: Matheus Cunha, the midweek match-winner against Arsenal, is the heavy favorite to replace Dorgu on the left wing.

• Returning Depth: Joshua Zirkzee returned to full training this week, though he is likely only fit for a bench role.

• The Summer Signings: Bryan Mbeumo continues to lead the line with clinical efficiency, while Amad Diallo retains his spot on the right after a string of high-energy performances.

• Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martínez, Shaw; Casemiro, Mainoo; Amad, Fernandes, Cunha; Mbeumo.

Fulham: The European Contenders

Marco Silva has transformed the Cottagers from mid-table observers into legitimate Champions League hopefuls. Fulham arrives in Manchester having taken 17 points from their last eight games. They are the league's most dangerous side from set-pieces over the last two months, a metric that will surely worry a United defense that has occasionally looked shaky in the air.

Team News and Selection:

• The New Arrival: Fulham announced the £27m signing of Oscar Bobb from Manchester City on Friday, but an existing injury means he will not debut today.

• AFCON Returns: Alex Iwobi and Calvin Bassey are back from international duty and are expected to start.

• Key Man: Harry Wilson is in the form of his life, recording nine goal contributions in his last 10 appearances.

• Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Smith Rowe; Wilson, Iwobi, Chukwueze; Jiménez.

? Head-to-Head (H2H) and Key Stats

• Reverse Fixture: The sides played out a gritty 1–1 draw at Craven Cottage in August 2025.

• Old Trafford Record: Fulham won on their last league visit to Old Trafford (February 2024), but haven't secured back-to-back away wins against United since the early 1960s.

• Carrick’s Momentum: A win today would see Carrick match Amorim’s best-ever winning streak (3 games) in just his first three matches in charge.

• Goal Average: Man Utd matches this season average 3.26 goals per game, suggesting a cagey 0–0 is highly unlikely.

Tactical Analysis and Prediction

This is the ultimate "banana skin" fixture for Carrick. After the high-intensity underdogs' roles against City and Arsenal, United must now prove they can break down a disciplined, low-block side. Fulham will look to exploit the space behind Luke Shaw using the pace of Samuel Chukwueze, while Harry Wilson’s delivery will test Harry Maguire’s aerial dominance.

However, the confidence at Old Trafford is at a three-year high. With Bruno Fernandes back to his creative best and Bryan Mbeumo finding pockets of space, United’s attacking fluidity should eventually pierce the Fulham wall.

Final Score Prediction: Manchester United 2–1 Fulham