Fulham F.C. vs Man United Lineups
Manchester United look to make it through to the FA Cup semifinals for the first time in three years when they face Fulham on Sunday. Erik ten Hag shuffled his pack slightly on Thursday, but expect him to bring back some of his regulars in the back-five.
Casemiro will miss out due to suspension, but Ten Hag will likely keep his preferred double pivot in place with Fred and Marcel Sabitzer. That means Fred could start midfield for the first time since returning from injury.
United XI: De Gea
David de Gea is expected to be named in the starting lineup for Manchester United against Fulham on Sunday. The Spanish goalkeeper has been in impressive form lately, having kept two clean sheets against Liverpool and Everton.
He is one of the first names on the team sheet for club and country, capturing the PFA Premier League Player of the Year award and winning a European title with United. He is also an integral part of the Spanish national team, having helped them win Euro 2016 and reach this season’s World Cup.
The 32-year-old has been an enduring presence in the United squad, starting all three rounds of the FA Cup, and he is set to lead the side against Fulham on Sunday. Several teammates are set to represent their countries in the coming weeks, so this is an ideal time for him to show his full commitment to the cause.
With Casemiro set to serve the first of his four-game ban, Erik ten Hag must be smart with his team selection on Sunday. He could opt for Diogo Dalot and Luke Shaw to partner Lisandro Martinez in the back line, with fit-again Marcel Sabitzer lining up in a double pivot alongside Fred.
lindelof
Fulham will host Man United in the final league football match before the World Cup break on Sunday afternoon. The Cottagers are looking to avenge last week’s defeat to Manchester City, while the Red Devils will be keen to avoid another run of form in which they struggle to keep up with the top sides.
The Cottagers have made plenty of changes to their squad following their 1-0 loss to the City outfit, and it will be interesting to see what Marco Silva has done with his side. Aleksandar Mitrovic was a major missing from the side last weekend, and Marco Silva wants to get him back in this match.
Despite the losses, Fulham is still in a strong position for a top-half finish. They sit just one point behind Manchester United but must be careful not to let this gap grow too large before the World Cup break.
Erik ten Hag is likely to make a few changes from the team that beat Real Betis on Thursday night, with Casemiro set to start his four-match ban against the Cottagers. Victor Lindelof is expected to deputize right-back, with Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez partnering in the middle of the United defense.
Varane
Raphael Varane is set to start for man united in their FA Cup quarter-final against Fulham on Sunday. The Frenchman was left out of the squad for the Carabao Cup tie against Real Betis on Thursday and is expected to return to the starting lineup in London.
Despite being out of the World Cup, Varane has been one of the Red Devils’ most consistent players this season. He made 22 starts and helped United keep six clean sheets in 20 matches.
The Frenchman started against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday and was impressive, holding a clean sheet and recording one tackle (zero won) and four clearances. He also had a very productive outing against Brighton, recording a goal, three shots, and three interceptions.
However, his disciplinary issues have been a cause for concern this season, and his shambolic performance against Villa was a major blow. He will need to work hard in training to prove himself.
Erik ten Hag will make a few changes to his side for this game, with David de Gea set to retain his place, while Raphael Varane will start at center-back, and Lisandro Martinez will partner him. Luke Shaw will also be a part of the lineup after he made an impact in the midweek Carabao Cup win against Aston Villa. Casemiro is suspended, so Fred and Marcel Sabitzer will be expected to play a key role in the middle of the park.
Shaw
Manchester United can book a place in the FA Cup semifinals with a victory against Fulham at Old Trafford on Sunday. The Red Devils have won their last eight games against the Cottagers and will aim to keep the momentum going when they host the London club in the quarter-final tie.
David de Gea is almost certain to start in goal for United and will look to continue his rich vein of form. Raphael Varane will likely be given a rest after he was ineffective in the win against Real Betis, while Luke Shaw could get his first start.
Casemiro is serving the first of his four-game suspension in midfield, and Scott McTominay is also doubtful due to injury. Fred and Marcel Sabitzer will likely be in a two-man midfield alongside Marcus Rashford, Bruno Fernandes, and Jadon Sancho.
The match could also see a debut for Wout Weghorst, who will likely line up alongside Fred on the right side of midfield. The Dutchman has started 17 matches since his January move to the club, and Ten Hag will look to use him in various roles, with his pressing ability and help with link-up play often being his most effective traits.
Casemiro
After the red card he received against Southampton, Casemiro is serving a four-match ban and is unlikely to feature for Erik ten Hag’s side against Fulham. But he should be back for the Europa League clash against Sevilla on Thursday and should plug straight into the starting lineup against Nottingham Forest next weekend.
The Brazilian midfielder has been one of United’s most effective players this season and will be vital to the outcome of this match. His experience and ability to break up play are two areas in which he will prove invaluable.
He will also play a vital role in United’s defensive performance. Despite his age, Casemiro has the experience to read the game and is comfortable sitting in front of the back four.
He has an array of progressive passes that allow him to move the ball forward in various ways, particularly when playing in the middle third of the pitch. These include diagonal passes, switches to wide players, and game-advancing passes from the attacking third.
Eriksen
United have won six of their last ten games against Fulham but will need to find a way to win the FA Cup quarter-final on Saturday evening. It’s a chance to end the Cottagers’ unbeaten run of four home wins and set up an interesting semifinal against Liverpool in two weeks.
Erik ten Hag has had to tweak his team in recent months due to the injury and suspension of key players, but United is still winning and look likely to go through to the next round. With Marcus Rashford suspended, Jesse Lingard, Luke Shaw, and Lisandro Martinez on the sidelines, this match could be a great opportunity to test United’s fitness.
The first 14 minutes have been very open, and United won it back in midfield. Casemiro floats a cross in, and Martial, Fernandes, and Eriksen all have an input.
It’s a fantastic move from United that opens up the home defense, with Wilson finding space down the right, and he plays a one-two with Martial, who rises well to nod it across the goal. But Leno saves, stretching to tip it wide.
Martial
Manchester United are back in action this weekend as they host Fulham in the FA Cup quarter-finals. The Red Devils are chasing four pieces of silverware this season and are looking to advance to the semifinals for the first time since 2015.
Erik Ten Hag’s men have been impressive in their quest to win the league, but it hasn’t come without frustrations. A poor start to the season saw them lose their place in the top four, but they’re now fifth and only six points behind Tottenham with two games in hand.
This match is the last before the World Cup break, so seeing how the players handle this will be interesting. Several players will be out representing their country, and ten Hag will want his team to put in their best performances before heading off to Qatar.
Manchester United is expected to field a strong side, with David de Gea, Diogo Dalot, Raphael Varane, and Lisandro Martinez likely to return to the starting lineup. Casemiro will be suspended for the first of his four matches, while Fred and Marcel Sabitzer are likely to make up a central midfield alongside Marcus Rashford and Bruno Fernandes.
Rashford
Manchester United will be looking to secure a second trip to Wembley this season when they host Fulham in the FA Cup quarter-final. The Red Devils are coming off a 1-0 win over Real Betis in the Europa League and will be hoping to build on that momentum ahead of next week’s home tie against Sevilla.
United have a great chance of securing their place in the final four as they host Fulham on Sunday, and manager Erik ten Hag will be determined to get his side into the semifinals. After ending their six-year wait for silverware last month, the Dutchman will be looking to add another trophy or two to his collection before the end of the season.
The Red Devils will be without Casemiro, suspended for this match after picking up a yellow card against Newcastle, while Raphael Varane is also ruled out. Meanwhile, Luke Shaw is still recovering from a hamstring injury.
Marco Silva hopes he can build on a strong performance against Arsenal and see his side play more like a threatening attacking unit as they look to notch up three points in the Premier League. Despite their injury crisis, United have plenty of quality up front, and Rashford should start against Fulham in what could be his best match of the season so far.
