Premier League GW26 - Man United vs Fulham

Man United vs Fulham | Picture Credits: Premier League Website

A rollercoaster of emotions was witnessed at Old Trafford during Manchester United's Premier League showdown with Fulham. Riding high on a winning streak of 2024, United took on Fulham, who were eager to win just their second game away from home this year. The scene was created for an intense interaction, and it was more than satisfying.

Man United:

United has changed their appearance from the beginning of the season and has won every game they have played in 2024 across all competitions (W6 D1). They held on to defeat Luton Town 2-1 last weekend to continue their winning streak in the Premier League. A fifth straight victory here would tie them with Tottenham in fifth place on the standings. They have a strong record against Fulham, having gone undefeated in their previous 16 league encounters (W13 D3).

Fulham:

Conversely, since the start of the year, Fulham has only won twice (D3 L4), both of which have occurred at Craven Cottage. Their only Premier League victory came when they defeated Bournemouth 3-1. They now sit 12th in the league after this sequence of results, but Marco Silva will be eager to try and secure just their second league victory away from home this year after going winless in 11 away games since defeating Everton in their first game (D4 L7).

Line ups:

MANCHESTER UNITED STARTING XI (4-2-3-1): Andre Onana; Diogo Dalot, Raphael Varane, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof; Kobbie Mainoo, Casemiro; Alejandro Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes, Omari Forson; Marcus Rashford.

MANCHESTER UNITED SUBS: Sofyan Amrabat, Scott McTominay, Altay Bayindir, Antony, Toby Collyer, Jonny Evans, Amad Diallo, Christian Eriksen, Willy Kambwala.

FULHAM STARTING XI (4-2-3-1): Bernd Leno; Timothy Castagne, Tosin Adarabioyo, Calvin Bassey, Antonee Robinson; Harrison Reed, Sasa Lukic; Harry Wilson, Andreas Pereira, Alex Iwobi; Rodrigo Muniz.

FULHAM SUBS: Marek Rodak, Adama Traore, Kenny Tete, Issa Diop, Tom Cairney, Fode Ballo-Toure, Tim Ream, Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Armando Broja.

Old Trafford Stadium | Picture Credits: Sports Illustrated

First Half: Near Misses and Goalkeeping Brilliance:

Muniz's early probing of Onana suggested Fulham's intentions from the outset. But as the half went on, United became more and more competitive.

Setting the tone for Fulham's attacking attempts, Iwobi fired a shot that just missed the mark after receiving a well-placed pass from Muniz.

The always dependable Onana demonstrated his ability to stop shots first blocking Muniz's diving header and then making a vital save from Pereira's curling attempt that hit the woodwork.

A frantic sequence saw Robinson's headed clearing off the line prevent Garnacho's attempt to curl. Maguire had his own opportunity, but he missed it. Once again, the woodwork was in play as Dalot's shot touched the post's exterior.

Fulham had a bright start, but the half ended without a breakthrough. Attacking intent was displayed by both teams, with Garnacho and Muniz particularly active. The home crowd became restless when they saw how frightening Marco Silva's guys appeared.

Second Half: Bassey Breaks Deadlock, Late Drama Ensues:

With a fierce head-on collision between Casemiro and Reed that resulted in a protracted delay, the second half got underway. On the other hand, Fulham broke through in the 65th minute.

After a heads-up, Casemiro and Reed continued despite their injuries. Reed's previous foot problem reappeared, but he persevered with courage. Reed created a fantastic opportunity with a well-placed cross, but Muniz was unable to score.

Bassey took advantage of Castagne's corner and fired the ball into the roof of the net, demonstrating the success of Fulham's perseverance. With the visitors leading 1-0, Old Trafford was in shock.

In the face of an unanticipated loss, United called in a late surge. Leno was tested by Fernandes' curling shot, and he was unable to catch the ball. Seizing the opportunity, Maguire scored on the rebound to bring the score back to even. When United tied the game at one, the stadium exploded.

In a thrilling finish, Fulham quickly replied. Without any opposition, Traore set up Iwobi, who deftly sidestepped Dalot and placed the ball in the bottom-left corner. Fulham broke United's winning run with a spectacular 2-1 triumph.

The late theatrics from Fulham at Old Trafford left the crowd in awe. An exciting match was highlighted by Bassey's breakthrough, Maguire's equaliser, and Iwobi's game-winning goal. It was a squandered chance for United to move up the table. Resilient and clinical, Fulham celebrated a thrilling victory away from home. This match becomes another unforgettable match as the Premier League story takes shape. The memories of Fulham's victory will reverberate at Old Trafford till the next chapter.

A goalless first half as both the teams struggled to score | Picture Credits: Premier League Website

Bassey scored a goal and broke the deadlock for Fulham which gave them a lead of 0-1 | Picture Credits: Premier League Website

Maguire scored a goal for United which levelled the score to 1-1 | Picture Credits: Premier League Website

Iwobi's late goal for Fulham gave them a lead of 2-1 which sealed their victory against United | Picture Credits: Premier League Website