Bruno Fernandes scored a stoppage-time goal to earn Manchester United a 1-0 win over Fulham in the Premier League and lift the pressure on under-fire manager Erik ten Hag.
Fernandes capitalised on a poor clearance by compatriot Joao Palhinha to stroke a low finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the area just seconds into added-on time at Craven Cottage.
United rebounded from back-to-back 3-0 losses to Manchester City and Newcastle over the past week that left Ten Hag facing his biggest crisis since taking over in the summer of 2022. The big games keep coming for Ten Hag, though, with United having a pivotal Champions League match at FC Copenhagen on Wednesday.
The big story before kick-off was around Marcus Rashford after he was not included in Manchester United’s squad. The England striker was forced to apologise to Ten Hag after attending a nightclub party after last weekend’s embarrassing derby defeat to Manchester City. But Rashford was missing at Craven Cottage due to injury after taking a “heavy knock” in training.
Follow live updates from Manchester United’s trip to Fulham in today’s live blog and get the latest betting odds here
Fulham vs Manchester United LIVE: Latest Premier League updates
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FULL TIME! Fulham 0-1 Manchester United
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90+1’ GOAL! Fernandes rescues United with late goal (FUL 0-1 MUN)
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62’ SAVES! Onana denies Wilson and Palhinha as United hang on (FUL 0-0 MUN)
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11’ NO GOAL! McTominay goal ruled out by VAR after Maguire offside (FUL 0-0 MUN)
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Marcus Rashford not in squad after picking up knock in training
Fulham FC 0 – 1 Manchester United FC
FULL TIME! Fulham 0-1 Manchester United
15:02 , Jamie Braidwood
Bruno Fernandes salvaged Manchester United’s desperate situation in stoppage time to snatch a 1-0 victory at Fulham, but as recent weeks have shown, those wild scenes of jubilation are likely to only provide temporary relief. As in the words of Erik ten Hag, United’s current state remains largely “unacceptable”, but winning, as it so often does, can make controversy and a litany of problems disappear.
Match report by Jack Rathborn at Craven Cottage:
Manchester United’s latest moment of inspiration covers up the same old problem
FULL TIME! Fulham 0-1 Manchester United
15:03 , Jamie Braidwood
Scott McTominay, speaking to TNT Sports:
“When things are going against you, sometimes you have to come together and fight like dogs.
“It’s a building block and I think we did more than enough to win the game in the end.
“We saw the banner before the game and the fans pay good money to come and see us, the support is relentless every single week and we just want to repay them as best we can.
“It’s step by step, with the manager and the coaching staff, we trust them a lot, we trust the players and I feel like we can go on, kick on and do better.
“You have to pick each other up when things aren’t going well. You need confidence, some need to feel like they’re loved, others need a rocket sometimes.
“Everyone reacts different and with the captain and the other senior player, I feel like we’ve got people who know the dressing room well and can bring everyone together to do better.”
FULL TIME! Fulham 0-1 Manchester United
14:56 , Jamie Braidwood
Bruno Fernandes, speaking to TNT Sports:
“Everyone knows the situation is not the best, we lost the last two games and it wasn’t the performances we wanted to give or the results but today it was a different game.
“We had to give something different and we delivered. We got the three points and that’s the most important thing.
“It’s about the team what everyone does on the pitch. Everyone has to sacrifice, run, work harder. Even on the goal, you could see everyone working hard to get the ball and that’s what makes the goal.
“It was a good performance. We could create more chances but we still had good chances. First half, we had control of the game, second half was amore divided game but I think the biggest chances were always on our side and I think we deserved the win.
“It has to build confidence but we have to understand that we can still do more. Understand now that it is about getting results every time we play.
“Champions League is important for us to get three points. Difficult game away this week but we are Man Utd and we have to win every game.”
FULL TIME! Fulham 0-1 Manchester United
14:38 , Jamie Braidwood
Speaking to TNT Sports, Scott McTominay said Manchester United’s players took notice from a banner in the away end at Craven Cottage telling the team to ‘play like you care’ and wanted to respond to recent results.
FULL TIME! Fulham 0-1 Manchester United
14:33 , Jamie Braidwood
Yes, United were poor today and were bailed out by another individual moment.
Does it just paper over the cracks? Perhaps, but this goal from Fernandes has given those United fans in the corner a great day out at Craven Cottage.
FULL TIME! Fulham 0-1 Manchester United
14:30 , Jamie Braidwood
Crisis averted for a few days. Fernandes rescues a vital three points for United at the death. That was the difference.
Fulham 0-1 Manchester United
14:28 , Jamie Braidwood
90+4 mins: We’re well into stoppage time now… and Fulham have barely offered a response apart from a Palhinha shot.
Maguire has been exceptional for United today and has cleared everything.
GOAL! Fulham 0-1 Manchester United (FERNANDES 90+1’)
14:23 , Jamie Braidwood
OUT OF NOWHERE – UNITED FIND THE WINNER IN STOPPAGE TIME!
This is brilliant from the captain – who has stepped up with what looks to be a late winner!
Fulham failed to clear and the ball broke to Fernandes on the edge of the box. From there, he sold Palhinha a dummy as he faked to shoot on his left. Fernandes then shifts onto his right and places a strong shot into the bottom corner, as Leno is unable to keep it out!
It’s another moment of individual inspiration to rescue United – but that could just be enough today.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
14:20 , Jamie Braidwood
87 mins: Another yellow… this time for Dalot as he cuts down Wilson on the edge of the box. Nice position for Fulham this…
But Wilson’s effort never threatened the target.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
14:17 , Jamie Braidwood
84 mins: CLOSE! Almost an immediate impact from Martial! Dalot gets around the outside and clips a cross into the middle. Martial had to turn his back to goal but goes close as he attempts to hook the shot over his shoulder. It just drops wide of goal.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
14:16 , Jamie Braidwood
83 mins: SAVE! That’s the most Leno has had to work all game. It’s a good effort from Fernandes, who goes close with a dipping free-kick that Leno tips wide.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
14:15 , Jamie Braidwood
81 mins: Will we get a winner here? It’s been a dire game.
Garnacho is hauled down by Iwobi about 25 yards out from goal and picks up a booking… chance for Fernandes…
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
14:12 , Jamie Braidwood
78 mins: Two changes coming for United: Mason Mount and Anthony Martial replace Eriksen and Hojlund, who looks furious.
Dalot slices a volley wide after a free-kick is cleared to the edge of the box.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
14:08 , Jamie Braidwood
75 mins: Muniz tried to play on after that fall but is now having to be replaced. The 22-year-old Brazilian goes off in tears. Hopefully it’s nothing serious.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
14:06 , Jamie Braidwood
72 mins: Hojlund has a rare chance to drive forwards but is crowded out on the edge of the Fulham box. Iwobi then lines up a shot on the edge of the box, but his effort is woeful and sails over the bar.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
14:02 , Jamie Braidwood
67 mins: Garnacho is booked after losing control of the ball and sliding into Wilson.
Muniz then slips after looks to have fallen awkwardly – could be a twisted knee that. There is concern among the Fulham medical staff.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
13:58 , Jamie Braidwood
65 mins: CHANCE! The Fulham pressure continues and this time Muniz rises to meet Pereira’s corner from the right. It’s over Onana’s bar, but that was a decent opportunity for the striker.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
13:57 , Jamie Braidwood
63 mins: OFF THE LINE! United are hanging on. Bassey’s header is not scrambled away by Dalot on the goalline.
Antony is United’s first substitute. He is replaced by Facundo Pellistri after another poor performance. There are some boos as Antony makes way.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
13:55 , Jamie Braidwood
62 mins: SAVE! The pressure was building from Fulham and finally Onana is called into action! The United goalkeeper is required to make two key saves to deny Wilson’s curling effort and then Palhinha’s drive from close range.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
13:54 , Jamie Braidwood
60 mins: There is concern, again, for Harry Maguire. The centre-back is looked at by United’s medical team, following his collision with Muniz earlier in the match.
Maguire still looks groggy – but he has again been cleared to play on.
I’ve got to say, it’s not a good look that Maguire is still on.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
13:52 , Jamie Braidwood
58 mins: CLOSE! The game starts to open up and Willian has another chance to shoot at goal from range. The Brazilian looks to shoot towards the far post and then whips a shot back towards the near post. It almost catches out Onana – but Willian pulls it wide of goal.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
13:50 , Jamie Braidwood
57 mins: Chance! Fulham will want this back! Wilson led the break and had so much room to drive into. He reaches the edge of the box and feeds it wide to Willian on the left. If the ball was better, Willian could have shot, but it slows him down and he instead looks for the cross. Maguire reads it well to block.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
13:48 , Jamie Braidwood
54 mins: United are sustaining their attacks now; Fulham have been camped in their half since the restart.
Hojlund has seen very little of the ball, though, it may only take a moment, but United aren’t creating chances.
United’s attack then breaks down as Maguire’s ball towards Dalot drifts out of play.
13:44 , Jamie Braidwood
50 mins: Ooooh. Danger again from Garnacho – who takes on Castagne and beats him on the outside. It looks like a replica of last season’s winner as he takes the shot with his left foot, but Castagne makes the block with Hojlund lurking at the back post.
Hojlund wanted that and made Garnacho know about it.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
13:41 , Jamie Braidwood
47 mins: SAVE! Better from United – and it’s no surprise to see it’s Garnacho who is responsible. The winger cuts inside with a flick of his feet and powers a shot at goal – it takes a deflection and lands nicely for Leno into his grasp, but it just goes to show: that could have gone anywhere but United simply haven’t taken a chance enough.
KICK-OFF! Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
13:39 , Jamie Braidwood
45 mins: A great stat from TNT Sports as we start the second half: United have only led a Premier League game for 93 minutes this season, only Sheffield United and Luton have led for less this season.
‘This is Manchester United we’re talking about’.
HALF TIME! Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
13:37 , Jamie Braidwood
No changes for United at the break… not sure how Ten Hag could have looked at that and thought it was ok.
Second half coming up next.
HALF TIME! Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
13:27 , Jamie Braidwood
As it is, the big story of the day is still Marcus Rashford’s absence from the Manchester United squad.
The England striker was forced to apologise to United boss Erik ten Hag after attending a nightclub party following last weekend’s embarrassing derby defeat to Manchester City.
But Rashford was missing at Craven Cottage due to injury after taking a “heavy knock” in training.
Reports emerged the day after the City match that the England international, who turned 26 on Tuesday, had gone to the Chinawhite nightclub for a pre-arranged birthday party hours after the Old Trafford loss.
“Yes, I am aware of it,” manager Ten Hag said of Rashford’s post-derby night out.
“I spoke with him about it. It’s unacceptable, I told him, he apologised and that’s it. For the rest it’s an internal matter.
“He’s very motivated to put things right. So, he makes a mistake, but that doesn’t say he’s not fitting in. I see him every day in training, what he’s doing, I know.”
HALF TIME! Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
13:22 , Jamie Braidwood
This can only get better, hopefully.
The big moment came when Scott McTominay’s opening goal was ruled out by referee John Brooks after consulting the pitchside monitor. In what was a subjective decision from the on-field official, Harry Maguire was ruled to have interfered with play after starting his run from an offside position, even though he did not touch the ball before Alejandro Garnacho squared to McTominay to score.
United will be upset at that – but they have offered very little since the disallowed goal in the eighth minute of the match.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
13:21 , Jamie Braidwood
45+4 mins: The classic ‘sums it up’ moment of the first half comes as Fernandes misshits a left-footed cross out for a goalkick under no pressure.
United have been flat, slow, and have offered basically no threat from open play.
And there’s half-time.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
13:18 , Jamie Braidwood
45 mins: There will be five minutes of added time – most of that coming from the VAR review earlier in the half.
Fulham have been the better team since that McTominay opener was disallowed.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
13:17 , Jamie Braidwood
44 mins: Fulham finish the first half on top as Pereira gets to the byline and McTominay is needed to block his cross out for a corner. Maguire defends his box well but Fulham come back forward. Willian skips past Antony with ease and bends a shot towards the far post… CLOSE! But just wide of Onana’s goal.
Jermaine Jenas calls that Antony defending “pathetic”.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
13:12 , Jamie Braidwood
39 mins: “Attack, attack… attack, attack, attack!” cry the United fans at Craven Cottage.
They have not been impressed by their side’s display, which has featured a lot of ‘safe’ passing around the backline.
Dalot volleys a mile over the bar following a corner.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
13:10 , Jamie Braidwood
38 mins: Chance to Fulham on the break… but it’s wasted by Iwobi! Garnacho’s pass put Eriksen into danger and Iwobi was able to pick up the loose pass before surging clear of United’s holding midfielder. But with Evans backing off, Iwobi blasted wide of Onana’s goal.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
13:06 , Jamie Braidwood
34 mins: And that’s better from United as Garnacho carries down the left and feeds Hojlund. The striker pulls it back to Fernandes but Leno reads what the captain is looking to do and covers the far post to easily save his curling effort.
The difference between Garnacho and Antony, annonymous on the right, is astonishing.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
13:05 , Jamie Braidwood
32 mins: Chance, kind of, for Evans after a United corner isn’t cleared by Fulham. It dropped to Evans at the front post but it required an acrobatic volley to try and hook it into the top corner, but the attempt goes wide.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
13:02 , Jamie Braidwood
28 mins: Great defending! Superb covering from Dalot to slide in and prevent a certain goal after Willian looked to pick out Wilson with a curling ball to the far post. That was really sharp from the United full-back.
But more encouragement for Fulham – Willian and Wilson are looking dangerous and Palhinha is controlling midfield.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
12:59 , Jamie Braidwood
27 mins: That’s a bit better though: Garnacho gets to the byline and pulls it back to find McTominay – whose shot is blocked by Bassey.
But Garnacho and McTominay – they are the ones who are trying to make things happen for United.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
12:58 , Jamie Braidwood
26 mins: Some nice play from Fulham as Wilson skips past Eriksen on the right. His cross misses everyone in the middle – but it’s Fulham who are on top right now. United are yet to create a real chance, apart from the disallowed goal of course.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
12:55 , Jamie Braidwood
22 mins: And there goes Willian! Palhinha takes a quick free kick and Willian is able to dribble into the box. Wan-Bissaka stands up well and deflects his shot wide.
From the corner, Wilson blazes a volley over the bar.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
12:52 , Jamie Braidwood
20 mins: Fulham are starting to have a couple of moments: Willian looks to be their biggest threat on the left and Antony’s struggles are not helping on United’s right. Wilson, on the opposite flank, is being left with room to attack the back post.
McTominay continues to look like United’s biggest threat with runs from midfield position, but you are left worrying for Eriksen – who appears to have been given the whole midfield to look after on his own.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
12:50 , Jamie Braidwood
18 mins: Here’s the incident that will have Ten Hag fuming if today’s result does not go United’s way…
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
12:47 , Jamie Braidwood
14 mins: I don’t know anymore… it seems very harsh on United to have that goal ruled out. Maguire was offside by a fraction – but that felt like VAR looking for a reason to rule the goal out, which doesn’t feel right.
NO GOAL! Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
12:42 , Jamie Braidwood
11 mins: Hang on… there’s a long VAR check ongoing…
The attention is on Harry Maguire – who is ruled to be stood in an offside position. Maguire, though, does not touch the ball before Garnacho – but is he interfering with play? The referee is sent to the pitchside monitor to determine for himself….
… and it’s ruled that Maguire was interfering with play after being offside!
THE GOAL IS RULED OUT!
GOAL! Fulham 0-1 Manchester United (MCTOMINAY 8’)
12:39 , Jamie Braidwood
8 mins: McTominay again for United!
That’s just what United needed: from the free-kick, Eriksen picks out Garnacho at the back post. The winger produces an excellent touch to squad the ball across the goal, where McTominay is in the right place to tap into the empty net!
Another big Premier League goal from the Scotland international.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
12:39 , Jamie Braidwood
7 mins: Fernandes turns well after receiving a pass from Maguire and it cut down by Palhinha – who somehow escapes a booking!
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
12:36 , Jamie Braidwood
4 mins: Maguire is back on despite having quite a significant cut above his right eye. Varane had started to warm up but has sat back down on the bench.
Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
12:33 , Jamie Braidwood
1 min: A worry for Manchester United within the opening minute. Harry Maguire stays down after a clash with Muniz – it looks like he caught his head on the Fulham forward’s shoulder. Maguire gets treatment and looks quite dazed. Concussion sub incoming?
KICK-OFF! Fulham 0-0 Manchester United
12:32 , Jamie Braidwood
Underway at Craven Cottage. United are playing in white shorts and socks but with a home top – Fulham have not beaten United since 2009 and they surely have not had a better chance to end that run.
Fulham vs Manchester United: Latest updates
12:30 , Jamie Braidwood
It’s the final home match at Craven Cottage before Remembrance Day so the players will gather around the centre-circle to pay their respects before kick-off.
This is a big afternoon for United – they will be without Rashford and the questions facing Ten Hag will grow louder should they not pick up three points.
The defence in particular looks shaky again – with Dalot at left back and Evans and Maguire as the centre-back partnership.
Kick-off is next.
Fulham vs Manchester United: Latest updates
12:24 , Jamie Braidwood
A clear message from the travelling supporters at Craven Cottage today: will the players respond? Kick-off is coming up!
Fulham vs Manchester United LIVE: Latest Premier League updates
12:24 , Jamie Braidwood
The last time Fulham beat Manchester United
19 December 2009 – a simpler time, one may say.
That’s where you have to go back to for the last time Fulham beat today’s opponents, as goals from Bobby Zamora, Danny Murphy and Damien Duff secured a 3-0 win for Roy Hodgson’s side over the champions.
Fulham vs Manchester United: Latest updates
12:21 , Jamie Braidwood
Rebecca Welch will become the first woman official to be involved in a refereeing capacity in a Premier League match when Manchester United visit Fulham on Saturday lunchtime.
Welch, 39, from Washington in Tyne and Wear, will be the fourth official at Craven Cottage.
Welch already holds the honour of being the first woman to be appointed to referee an English Football League match. She led the team of officials for the League Two match between Harrogate and Port Vale in April 2021.
Welch played football from childhood but only took up the whistle at the age of 27, after been challenged to do so by a friend.
“I played football and didn’t even think about refereeing until one of my really good friends, who is a referee, refereed us,” she said in an interview. “I spent the whole game telling her how to do her job! Her response was, ‘If you think it’s that easy, give it a go’. That’s how it happened and 10 years later here I am.”
Who is Rebecca Welch? First woman referee to be involved in a Premier League game
Fulham vs Manchester United: Latest updates
12:15 , Jamie Braidwood
How bad has Manchester United’s start been?
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Manchester United have lost five of their opening 10 Premier League matches – their most at the start of a league campaign since 1986-87.
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Defeat to Newcastle in the Carabao Cup then made it eighth defeats in 15 matches in all competitions, making it their worst start to a season since 1962-63.
Fulham vs Manchester United LIVE: Latest Premier League updates
12:03 , Jamie Braidwood
Sir Jim Ratcliffe ‘agrees deal’ as part of 25 per cent investment – reports
Sir Jim Ratcliffe is to commit up to £245m to improve Manchester United’s infrastructure as part of his agreement to purchase a 25 per cent stake of the club, Sky News reported yesterday.
Ratcliffe and Ineos are in line to buy an initial 25 per cent stake in Manchester United, with the decision set to confirmed in the next two weeks, The Independent reported last month. The billionaire petrochemicals mogul wants this to be a “path to a majority”, according to involved figures, and will already be seeking influence on football decisions.
Ratcliffe’s decision to go for a 25 per cent minority stake, valued at around £1.3bn, is also set to see the Ineos owner invest a significant sum into fixing-up Old Trafford, which has been hit by problems in recent seasons, such as a leaky roof, and was overlooked as a host venue for Euro 2028.
Fulham vs Manchester United LIVE: Latest Premier League updates
11:56 , Jamie Braidwood
The Fulham star set to show Man United the midfield move they should have made
And so the revelations, such as they are, continue to pour forth from Old Trafford. A few days on from a suggestion he couldn’t play the same way at Manchester United as he did at Ajax because he now has different players, Erik ten Hag walked that back somewhat to insist he’s looking for something of both clubs.
“The explanation from my point of view was totally wrong that I can’t play like Ajax because I have different players,” he said ahead of this weekend’s game at Fulham. “I came here with my philosophy based on possession but also [I want] to combine it with the DNA of Manchester United and combine it with the competences and the characters of the players. We have seen what it was. We played very good football last season.”
Perhaps they did, at times, but they certainly haven’t this term. The attacking play is ponderous, lacking confidence, inconsistent. United have netted five goals in their last five Premier League games. They average 1.1 per match this term, the lowest in the current top 12.
By Karl Matchett
The Fulham star set to show Man United the midfield move they should have made
Erik ten Hag will need to be ‘a fighter’ to save job as Man Utd fall into calamity
11:50 , Jamie Braidwood
Erik ten Hag did not try to defend the indefensible but, after his team showed precious little fight, he pronounced himself a fighter. His programme notes had contained the assertion that it was “only a matter of time before we show our true selves.”
Instead, Manchester United had been truly awful, a wretched rabble who were overpowered by Newcastle United’s depleted side. If the England cricket team were mounting the most abject defence of a title at the World Cup, United’s attempt to retain the Carabao Cup felt their own brand of dreadful.
Analysis by Senior Football Correspondent Richard Jolly
Erik ten Hag will need to be ‘a fighter’ to save job as Man Utd fall into calamity
Fulham vs Manchester United: Team news
11:38 , Jamie Braidwood
Erik ten Hag says Rashford is “not fit” and confirms he would have started if it wasn’t for picking up a knock in training.
Ten Hag says the “case is closed” after he said it was “unacceptable” that the forward went out for a birthday party after last weekend’s derby defeat.
Marcus Rashford faces disciplinary action after ‘unacceptable’ partying
Fulham vs Manchester United: Team news
11:36 , Jamie Braidwood
Fulham XI: Leno, Castagne, Bassey, Ream, Robinson, Wilson, Joao Palhinha, Iwobi, Pereira, Willian, Muniz
Fulham vs Manchester United: Team news
11:33 , Jamie Braidwood
Marcus Rashford is NOT in the Manchester United squad to face Fulham.
The forward is missing as he failed a fitness test after picking up a knock in training yesterday, according to United.
Rashford has travelled to the Craven Cottage with the United team, however.
Man Utd XI: Onana, Wan-Bissaka, Evans, Maguire, Dalot, McTominay, Eriksen, Fernandes, Antony, Hojlund, Garnacho
Fulham vs Manchester United: Team news
11:28 , Jamie Braidwood
We’re just a couple of minutes away from the team news dropping at Craven Cottage.
Any surprises in store from Ten Hag and Silva?
Erik ten Hag issues Manchester United rallying cry as pressure grows on beleaguered manager
11:15 , Jamie Braidwood
Under-fire Erik ten Hag says Manchester United need to “stand up” and work “shoulder by shoulder” to turn around a season that is threatening to go into a tailspin.
Old Trafford is under the spotlight after two 3-0 home humiliations in the space of four days ratcheted up the pressure on a club enduing their worst start to a campaign since 1962-63.
Sunday’s derby defeat at the hands of rivals Manchester City was compounded by Newcastle on Wednesday, who comfortably won the repeat of February’s Carabao Cup final.
It underlined just how far things have gone off track since the sides met at Wembley, with United now having lost eight of their 15 matches in all competitions this term.
“This is not good enough and we know that,” manager Ten Hag said. “We were in the game and then in a couple of minutes we are giving the game away.
“That’s below our standards and we know that all and we have to take responsibility for this.”
Erik ten Hag issues Man Utd rallying cry as pressure grows on beleaguered manager
Manchester United stand by Erik ten Hag – but has he already passed the point of no return?
11:05 , Jamie Braidwood
Manchester United still want to persevere with Erik ten Hag but the club are now at a grimly familiar point where results may take precedence over aims to persist with the manager, reports The Independent’s Chief Football Writer Miguel Delaney.
There is already a view from some within Old Trafford that the Dutch coach has that same beaten air that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and David Moyes had in the final weeks of their tenures.
The big question is whether Ten Hag can change results and performances. The big problem is that there has been no sign of how. United have gone beyond regression now.
Manchester United stand by Erik ten Hag – but has he passed the point of no return?
Casemiro ruled out for ‘several weeks’ with hamstring injury
11:03 , Jamie Braidwood
Casemiro has been ruled out for several weeks with a hamstring injury that has added to Manchester United’s problems, Richard Jolly reports.
The Brazilian was hurt in the first half of Wednesday’s 3-0 defeat to Newcastle, which came after he missed United’s three previous matches with an ankle problem.
He is now set to miss the rest of United’s November – when they face Fulham, FC Copenhagen, Luton, Everton and Galatasaray.
The 31-year-old, who has not played the full 90 minutes in a match for United since September, could be in a race against time for potentially tough games at the start of December, when United face Newcastle and Chelsea before Bournemouth, Bayern Munich and Liverpool.
His absence means loan signing Sofyan Amrabat could get an extended run as Erik ten Hag’s defensive midfielder.
Fulham vs Manchester United: Early team news
11:02 , Jamie Braidwood
Fulham still have some injury issues in defence with Issa Diop, Tosin Adarabioyo and Kenny Tete all out. Joao Palhinha and Willian will be among those who return to the starting line-up after Wednesday’s 3-1 win at Ipswich in the Carabao Cup.
Casemiro has been ruled out for several weeks with a hamstring injury picked up in Wednesday’s 3-0 defeat to Newcastle. Raphael Varane is back with the squad but Victor Lindelof is a doubt due to illness, while Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw are confirmed absences from the defence.
Bruno Fernandes, Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford should return to the line-up after Ten Hag made seven changes for the defeat to Newcastle.
Predicted line-ups:
Fulham: Leno; Castagne, Bassey, Ream, Robinson; Palhinha, Reed, Iwobi; Reid, Jiminez, Willian
Manchester United: Onana; Dalot, Varane, Maguire, Reguilon; Amrabat, McTominay, Eriksen; Fernandes, Hojlund, Rashford
Fulham vs Manchester United LIVE: Latest Premier League updates
11:01 , Jamie Braidwood
When is Fulham vs Manchester United?
The match will kick-off at 12:30pm GMT on Saturday 4 November at Craven Cottage, London.
How can I watch it?
It will be shown live on TNT Sports 1, with coverage starting from 11am. TNT Sports can also stream the match live on Discovery+.
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Good morning
11:00 , Jamie Braidwood
Hello and welcome to The Independent’s live coverage of Fulham vs Manchester United in the Premier League, with the hosts knowing they have the chance to pile the pressure on Erik ten Hag by ending a 14-year winless run against the visitors.
Fulham have not beaten Manchester United since 2009, losing 14 and drawing three of the games they have played since. But with United having made a woeful start to the season, with five defeats already, Marco Silva’s side have a precious opportunity.
United come into the fixture having suffered two heavy defeats at Old Trafford this week, first being thrashed by Manchester City in the derby before Newcastle ended their Carabao Cup defence in an abject 3-0 loss.
Defeat in the Manchester derby last weekend left United eight points off the top four already and although Ten Hag’s position is considered to be safe for now, the pressure would only increase on the Dutchman should that gap stretch any wider.
Follow all the build-up and latest updates ahead of Fulham vs Manchester United in the day’s early kick-off.