A place within the FA Cup semi-finals will be on the road when Manchester United and Fulham meet at Old Trafford on Sunday.
The dreaded international break is upon us. But membership football will dish out a number of eye-catching fixtures before then. The FA Cup quarter-finals are underway, with Manchester City and Burnley going through off on Saturday. And Manchester United and Fulham will spherical up the action on Sunday after they conflict at Old Trafford.
Manchester United reached the FA Cup quarter-finals after clinching three successive 3-1 wins in as many rounds. Everton, Reading, and West Ham United had been their victims. On the other hand, Fulham played an extra fixture after having to undergo a fourth-round replay towards Sunderland. And the Cottagers have crushed Hull City and Leeds United along the finest way.
Manchester United’s recent results are a trigger for concern, with the Red Devils failing to win two of their final four games. But they returned to successful methods by beating Real Betis in the UEFA Europa League on Thursday. Meanwhile, Fulham’s kind has also petered out, with Marco Silva’s men shedding their final two matches. And the Portuguese supervisor wants his team to bounce again soon.
Manchester United and Fulham have already cashed as quickly as this season, with Erik ten Hag’s charges eking out a 2-1 win over the Cottagers. The Hard Tackle takes a better have a glance at the encounter forward of the newest meeting between the 2 sides.
Team News & Tactics
Manchester United
🗣️ “We did really well with out Casemiro towards Arsenal, and against Leeds.”
Erik ten Hag is assured within the staff regardless of missing Casemiro by way of a four-match suspension ❌ pic.twitter.com/C2UkQaqTYm
— Football Daily (@footballdaily) March 17, 2023
Erik ten Hag has new roster points hampering his preparations forward of the FA Cup quarter-final this weekend. Against Fulham on Sunday, the Manchester United supervisor could be bereft of the companies of seven first-team players.
Casemiro is probably the most notable absentee, with the Brazilian worldwide starting his four-match suspension. Christian Eriksen (ankle), Donny van de Beek (knee), Alejandro Garnacho (ankle), and Anthony Martial (hip) also remain on the sidelines. Meanwhile, Scott McTominay (knock) and Antony (illness) may also miss the game because of minor points.
David de Gea picks himself between the sticks, with Manchester United lining up in a 4-2-3-1 formation in entrance of him. Erik ten Hag shuffled his pack slightly on Thursday but will convey back a few regulars. These include defensive mainstays Diogo Dalot, Luke Shaw, and Raphael Varane. And the trio will be part of Lisandro Martinez within the defensive unit.
Casemiro’s absence will force ten Hag to be clever along with his team choice. And the fit-again Marcel Sabitzer should reprise a defensive role, with Fred pairing up with him within the double pivot. The two players will look to maintain former Manchester United playmaker Andreas Pereira quiet on Sunday.
Bruno Fernandes will be the creative supremo for Manchester United as he appears to wreak havoc from a free function. Meanwhile, Antony and Garnacho’s absence means Jadon Sancho should begin on the right flank, with Marcus Rashford and Wout Weghorst completing the offensive unit.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): de Gea; Dalot, Varane, Martinez, Shaw; Fred, Sabitzer; Sancho, Bruno Fernandes, Rashford; Weghorst
Fulham
Unlike his counterpart in the Manchester United dugout, Marco Silva has greeted positive updates on the group information front forward of the trip to Old Trafford. The Fulham supervisor might be without simply three first-team players on Sunday.
The good news is that Joao Palhinha might be out there after serving his suspension. The in-demand Portuguese international’s return comes as a big increase for Silva. The Fulham manager will also see Cedric Soares, Tom Cairney, and Willian returning to motion.
But Layvin Kurzawa (knee), Shane Duffy (knock), and Neeskens Kebano (Achilles) stay on the sidelines. Meanwhile, Marek Rodak should get an opportunity to impress between the sticks. And Fulham will line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation towards Manchester United on Sunday.
💬 On Sunday: “We will maintain taking part in with high ambition. We need to play in the Semi-Finals and we want to enhance on our last two video games.”#MUNFUL pic.twitter.com/yJK7knmF5f
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) March 17, 2023
The backline won’t see any surprises, with Kenny Tete and Antonee Robinson being the two full-backs. Silva will give the duo the license to charge ahead and specific themselves. And Issa Diop and Tim Ream will probably be the 2 centre-backs.
Palhinha will make Fulham extra strong in the center of the park, including a layer of safety in front of the defensive unit. The Portuguese international will hyperlink up with Harrison Reed in the double pivot. And Andreas Pereira will be the inventive workhorse for the guests.
Manor Solomon has been one of the in-form players in England. And the Israeli attacker will be the greatest risk to Manchester United along with his directness. The fit-again Willian ought to start on the proper flank, with Aleksandar Mitrovic, searching for his first FA Cup objective, spearheading the assault.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Rodak; Tete, Diop, Ream, Robinson; Palhinha, Reed; Willian, Pereira, Solomon; Mitrovic
Key Stats
- After shedding their first two FA Cup ties against Fulham in 1905 and 1908, Manchester United have progressed from every of their final eight towards them. This is their first assembly in the competition since a 4-1 win in January 2013. The Cottagers are winless in their final 15 conferences with Manchester United in all competitions (D3 L12). They have only received one of their final 25 away games in opposition to the Red Devils (3-1 in October 2003).
- Manchester United have scored in their final 25 home games towards Fulham throughout all competitions, netting 63 targets in whole. The final Fulham goalkeeper to keep a clear sheet in opposition to them at Old Trafford was Tony Macedo in April 1963.
- No staff has reached the FA Cup semi-finals more than Manchester United (30, degree with Arsenal). However, the Red Devils have lost five of their last eight quarter-final ties, most lately towards Leicester City in 2020/21.
- Fulham have lost their last three FA Cup quarter-final ties, with this their first since 2009/10. They last reached the semi-finals of the competition in 2001/02, beating West Bromwich Albion in that year’s Last Eight.
- Manchester United are unbeaten in 16 FA Cup home video games (W14 D2) since shedding 2-1 towards Arsenal at this stage of the competitors in 2014/15. But a type of two draws did end in a penalty shootout defeat (against Middlesbrough in February 2022).
Player to Watch
Marcel Sabitzer
Embed from Getty Images
Casemiro’s absence has come as a giant blow for Manchester United. And Erik ten Hag needs pressing solutions in the next 4 home video games, with the Brazilian international leaving a gaping gap in the midfield. That brings Marcel Sabitzer into the image.
The Austrian worldwide is a versatile midfielder who can reprise varied roles in the course of the park. And while Sabitzer might not primarily be a holding midfielder, he can do an efficient job for Manchester United. And the 29-year-old will look to rise to the occasion for the Red Devils this weekend.
Prediction
Manchester United 3-1 Fulham
Manchester United and Fulham have produced some eye-catching match-ups this season. And the two teams will mix to create one other riveting fixture as they vie for a spot in the FA Cup semi-finals. Fulham, in particular, will look to pounce on Casemiro’s absence as a outcome of suspension.
But Marcel Sabitzer will make his mark after affected by teething issues in the first jiffy. That will set Manchester United up for a commanding display as the minutes put on on. And The Hard Tackle predicts another 3-1 win within the FA Cup. That means Fulham’s report of not eliminating a couple of Premier League club in a single FA Cup campaign will continue.