The Daily Star Lebanon Breaking News, Lebanon News, Middle East News & World News
Back in the Premier League since 2022, Fulham have proven themselves a stable force rather than relegation battlers. Last season, the London side secured an 11th-place finish, sitting comfortably in mid-table but still lacking the extra spark to break into the race for European football. This year, the objective remains the same: consolidate their status in the top flight while pushing for incremental progress.
Fulham’s summer preparations suggested a team in good shape. Marco Silva’s men picked up wins against Nottingham Forest (3-1), Al-Ittihad (4-2), and Eintracht Frankfurt (1-0) before opening the league campaign with a dramatic 1-1 draw at Brighton, courtesy of a late equaliser from Rodrigo Muniz.
Manchester United’s Ongoing Struggles
In contrast, Manchester United continue to search for answers. Last season was nothing short of disastrous by the club’s standards, finishing a lowly 15th with just 42 points—their worst top-flight return in years. Their only real chance at salvaging the campaign was the Europa League, but they fell short in the final, losing 1-0 to Tottenham.
The arrival of Portuguese manager Rúben Amorim last year was intended to spark a revival, but progress has been limited. Still, without European commitments this season—the first time since 2014/15—United have fewer distractions and a chance to fully concentrate on domestic form.
Pre-season offered mixed signals: defeats against ASEAN opposition, but wins over West Ham (2-1) and Bournemouth (4-1), plus draws against Everton (2-2) and Fiorentina (1-1, won on penalties). However, their league opener brought a setback: a narrow 1-0 defeat to Arsenal despite dominating possession.
Transfer Activity and Team News
Fulham opted for stability rather than major changes this summer. The only signing was veteran goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte from Montpellier as backup. Departures included long-serving captain Tom Cairney, winger Nelson, and Brazilians Willian and Carlos Vinícius. Despite those exits, the core remains intact with Bernd Leno in goal, defenders Joachim Andersen and Calvin Bassey, and midfielders Sander Berge, Saša Lukić, and Andreas Pereira. In attack, Alex Iwobi and Raúl Jiménez continue as key figures. For this fixture, left-back Antonee Robinson is sidelined, while Ryan Sessegnon is doubtful.
At Manchester United, the rebuild continues. Veterans Victor Lindelöf and Christian Eriksen left at the end of their contracts, while Jonny Evans retired. Marcus Rashford, meanwhile, moved to Barcelona after his loan spell at Aston Villa.
Their attacking unit was overhauled with big-money arrivals: Benjamin Šeško from Leipzig, Matheus Cunha from Wolves, and Bryan Mbeumo from Brentford. Promising youngster Diego Leon also joined from Cerro Porteño, while Antony returned from a successful loan at Real Betis. United captain Bruno Fernandes and winger Amad Diallo remain central to the project, while teenager Leny Yoro looks set for a bigger defensive role.
Absences remain a concern: defenders Noussair Mazraoui and Lisandro Martínez are still out, and both André Onana and Rasmus Højlund are expected to miss this clash.
Probable lineups:
- Fulham: Leno – Tete, Andersen, Bassey, Cuenca – Berge, Lukic – Wilson, King, Iwobi – Jiménez
- Man United: Bayindir – Yoro, De Ligt, Shaw – Dalot, Casemiro, Fernandes, Dorgu – Mbeumo, Šeško, Cunha
Prediction
Fulham have shown resilience but remain inconsistent, particularly at home. Nine defeats in their last ten Premier League outings highlight their struggles against stronger opposition. United, despite their turbulent form, tend to perform better on the road and boast superior firepower with their refreshed front line.
A tight game is expected, but United’s attacking options and Fernandes’ creativity could prove decisive.
Prediction: Fulham 1:2 Manchester United
