FA Premier League

Manchester United 3:2 Fulham

Old Trafford

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Sun, 1 February 2026 @ 2:00pm GMT
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    Tight half, they're a good side obviously so it was never going to be easy. Would definitely bring on Sesko in the 2nd half for one of Mbeumo or Cunha, don't think either have played well. Amad, case and Maguire the 3 stand outs id say
     
    Just cross it. You've got three players blocking the goal. Some of our players really need to start engaging their brain.
     
    Half-time New
    Concerned at the intensity at points, but definitely a marked improvement from what we're usually like in these games.
     
    I hope no one expected us to steamroll Fulham 3-0 by halftime. They’re a pretty decent side.
     
    DWelbz19 said:
    Cunha not really involved either (other than winning the foul for the goal). Brightest players probably been Amad and Casemiro. Back four doing well too
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    We haven’t gone down the left side at all really. Even Cunha winning the free kick on the right.
     
    The lead masks that it's been largely pretty bad. I wouldn't trust us to maintain the lead unless the performance improves. We look like we don't have the solutions to play through their midfield.

    I'd really like to see Sesko sooner rather than later. No that Mbeumo has been bad, but just to have a bit more presence up front.
     
    Not a bad performance but we've never managed to fully control the game. 1-0 is fair enough.

    Definitely a continuation of the style of play we saw against City and Arsenal, but it's less effective against a team that itself is happy to play more vertically.

    I think the team would benefit from having Sesko on the pitch, the ball isn't really sticking when it goes upfield. Bruno will release passes as soon as he can and Mbeumo is more interested in making runs past defenders for someone to find. No-one's giving our other players time to move up the pitch, so it's turning over quickly.

    We weren't under any sustained threat in that half, but Fulham definitely have a goal in them, so we won't be comfortable unless we get another goal.
     
    The Hilton said:
    I'm not making a manager vs manager point here, it's a personnel issue. We're wide open in midfield and at full back, which can be mitigated when sitting deep against teams that push high like City and Arsenal did, but in games like this where we have to push forward it leaves gaps that we don't have the positioning or athleticism to close.
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    Our press has never been reliably good under any manager so I don't get the 'it's as bad as ever' angle (unless you count throwing everyone forward man-to-man pressing as 'good' and I'd assume you had said this during our time under Amorim as well then?), which is why I pointed out our tactical shape when behind the ball. Personnel issue I don't necessarily disagree but as I said, tactically and our shape out of possession is 'better'. It's bit of a nervy game for us considering our frailties but this is as progressive and as good a game we've had in a while especially being 1 nil ahead against an in-form team.

    We're not full steaming ahead when on the ball and that's a good thing. I've been saying for a while we should have adopted a mid-block approach similar to what we saw in ETH's first season and so far it's been as expected.
     
    No surprise that Bruno is getting outmuscled in midfield. These Fulham lads are gigantic. Need cunha to be sharper and more focused when receiving the ball. Too many wayward touches for a match this tight. This ain’t wolves. Those touches matter.
     
    Good half and a clean sheet so far. Got to be happy as these are the games we feck up in.
     
    Lash said:
    Concerned at the intensity at points, but definitely a marked improvement from what we're usually like in these games.
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    is it? we scored from a set piece. Take that away and we look void of any ideas or creativity, it's more of the same.
     
    We need to go for the second. The attack is not working very well today and probably someone needs to go out to give space for Sesko. Also, we look kind of tired isn’t it?
     
    bosnian_red said:
    Tight half, they're a good side obviously so it was never going to be easy. Would definitely bring on Sesko in the 2nd half for one of Mbeumo or Cunha, don't think either have played well. Amad, case and Maguire the 3 stand outs id say
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    Mbuemo been fine it’s Bruno that’s shitting the bed
     
    Good solid display, look good at the back, it’s so nice to see a settled back four understanding their roles, midfield is a little open at times but both Casemiro and Mainoo are playing well. Up front we need more from Cunha and Mbeumo. Trying hard but nothing coming off just yet.
     
    Solid.

    Mainoo’s been great.

    Think we’ll get the points here. Do wonder if Sesko might have been a better option up front today, though
     
    Need more control in the MF. Maybe bring in Sesko to get on the end of those crosses.
     
    A pretty average half, nothing particularly positive or negative happening.

    Amad looks the most lively and Maguire is winning everything in the air.

    As expected in a game like this, we are missing a focal point up front. Hopefully Sesko gets a good half an hour to provide that.
     
    Smores said:
    Shouldn't even be a debatable point, we know this is the weakness of this setup with this squad as we've probably over 100 games showing it.

    We also know the answer to fix it, midfield quality.
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    It shouldn't, but a good number of posters heavily overrate our squad, especially in some of the areas it's weakest.

    We desperately need midfield and full back reinforcements that are positionally disciplined, can cover ground, and snuff out counters.
     
    Physically found wanting a bit. Pulled apart a bit too easily for my liking and their poor decision making in the final third is helping us. Our man to man press gets played through with the weak links (Cunha, Mainoo, Casemiro).

    Not sure Sesko is what changes things here. He benefitted massively from having Dorgu wide left, Cunha offers very little for him playing wide left in possession and centrally out of possession (to cover for his lack of tracking back).

    Unless Carrick changes things tactically with a left footer wide left. It worked really well under Fletcher.
     
    Feel like we need to change something before Fulham find a goal.

    Obviously hard to say but our press has left the ball through the centre on a lot for Fulham so that needs addressing.

    Bruno keeps receiving the ball with a defender on his back so it might be worth temporarily bringing him deeper and pushing someone like Mainoo forward in order to get Bruno on the ball without Berge up his arse.
     
    Need to play better the 2nd half if we want 3 points.

    I like Berge and he would be a good DM for us.
     
    Cunha has been poor. A few poor touches and passes. I wouldn't mind Sesko coming on around 55 min mark.
     
    This is the first time im really paying attention to Berge. He seems pretty solid, and he’s done quite a good job on Bruno
     
    Pretty even first half, with not much between the two teams. We've not been great and while they have looked threatening at times, they haven't forced Lammens to make any meaningful saves aside from the corner (where I think there was a push on Shaw).

    I think we need to change something either tactically or with a personnel change to get on top of the game.
     
    Thought we were mostly excellent defending in our box. Outside of our defensive third only Kobbie and Amad have impressed. Very sloppy from Bruno and Cunha and Mbeumo can't get the ball under control
     
    I hate that everything goes through Bruno as they single him out and if they just mark him out the game…we have nothing going forward.

    I didn’t even know Cunha was playing, all he does is go inside and provides no width.
     
    Not much in it really, they have a clear physical advantage so we need likes of Bruno, Mbeumo and Cunha to take much better care of the ball.

    Mainoo and Amad have been very good so far though.
     
    bosnian_red said:
    Tight half, they're a good side obviously so it was never going to be easy. Would definitely bring on Sesko in the 2nd half for one of Mbeumo or Cunha, don't think either have played well. Amad, case and Maguire the 3 stand outs id say
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    I'd add Dalot there as well. Good half from him.
     
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Post-match discussion

Man of the Match

Casemiro image Casemiro 72% of 276 votes

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Player Ratings

6.8 Total Average Rating

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Score Predictions

143,6,10
  • Man Utd win
  • Fulham win
  • Draw

Detailed Results

  • 26% Man Utd 2:0 Fulham
  • 21% Man Utd 3:1 Fulham
  • 21% Man Utd 2:1 Fulham
  • 14% Man Utd 3:0 Fulham
  • 4% Man Utd 1:1 Fulham
  • 4% Man Utd 4:1 Fulham
  • 2% Man Utd 1:2 Fulham
  • 2% Man Utd 4:0 Fulham
  • 1% Man Utd 1:0 Fulham
  • 1% Man Utd 2:2 Fulham
  • 1% Man Utd 0:2 Fulham
  • 1% Man Utd 5:0 Fulham
  • 1% Man Utd 1:3 Fulham
  • 1% Man Utd 3:3 Fulham
  • 1% Man Utd 1:9 Fulham
Compiled from 159 predictions.
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