Man United - Fulham: Old Trafford is set to celebrate again

Michael Carrick replaced Ruben Amorim and has brought a fresh energy to MU, helping the team excel by defeating both Man City and Arsenal in back-to-back Premier League matches. Notably, the Red Devils are showcasing a very convincing style of play.

These results have propelled MU into the Top 4 of the Premier League standings. The Red Devils currently lead Chelsea by 1 point and Liverpool by 2 points ahead of round 24.

Riding this wave of confidence, Manchester’s reds are determined to beat Fulham at home to keep their dream streak alive.

Another tough challenge awaits Carrick this round as MU faces Fulham, who are also dreaming of European qualification. Since mid-December last year, The Cottagers have lost only once in their last eight matches across all competitions, winning five times.

Fulham currently sit 7th in the standings, just 4 points behind the Top 4.

Coach Silva’s squad also held MU to a 1-1 draw at Craven Cottage earlier this season. In February 2024, they secured a victory at Old Trafford, their only win there in the last 20 visits.

With rising star Patrick Dorgu unavailable, Michael Carrick must find an alternative plan to break through Fulham’s solid defense. It’s likely Carrick will deploy the secret weapon he hasn’t used in the last two games: Benjamin Sesko.

The Slovenian striker shone with 3 goals in 2 matches under interim coach Darren Fletcher, but since Carrick took over, he has yet to start a game.

Instead, Carrick has used Bryan Mbeumo as a false nine. Mbeumo’s mobility, agile movement, and speed have been highly effective in counterattacks against ball-dominant teams like Arsenal and Man City.

However, Marco Silva’s Fulham is known for deep defensive play, closing all gaps behind their backline. In such a setup, Mbeumo’s pace and positioning may be less effective. Bringing Sesko off the bench against Man City showed Carrick has carefully prepared the striker for the upcoming match.

Sesko’s height of 1.95m and ideal physique could be advantageous against Fulham. He can use his strength to shield the ball, hold up play, and draw defenders’ attention, creating space for teammates like Amad Diallo or Bruno Fernandes to make attacking runs. His aerial ability also offers MU a strong option from wide crosses.

Since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, Man United has struggled to maintain the stature of a top club. Alongside poor results, several managers have been dismissed. From David Moyes, Louis Van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, to Ole Solskjaer, none managed to improve the club’s fortunes. Subsequently, interim and permanent coaches like Michael Carrick, Ralf Rangnick, Erik Ten Hag, Van Nistelrooy, and Ruben Amorim have successively taken charge at Old Trafford. They often spark short-term improvement but ultimately fail to achieve the club’s long-term goals.

Now it is Carrick’s turn, the young strategist who still holds credibility. Previously, the English coach had only a brief two-week stint as interim manager during the 2021-2022 season.

Carrick is performing just as well, if not better, than four years ago, with two consecutive wins over Man City and Arsenal, pushing MU back into the Top 4. This success may earn him a long-term contract instead of a temporary role.

But has the Red Devils’ revival truly arrived, or is it just a brief flare after a few good games?

The match against Fulham in the 24th round of the 2025-2026 Premier League at 9 PM on February 1st will reveal the current form of the Red Devils.

Projected starting lineups for both teams
MU: Lammens, Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw, Mainoo, Casemiro, Diallo, Fernandes, Mbeumo, Cunha
Fulham: Leno, Castagne, Andersen, Cuenca, Sessegnon, Berge, Iwobi, Wilson, Smith Rowe, Chukwueze, Jimenez