Fulham out to dent Manchester United’s title hopes at the Cottage

Manchester United will be looking to return to the top of the table and keep their distance from Leicester, rivals Manchester City and last year’s champions Liverpool, as they travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham on Wednesday night.

A much anticipated rival match between United and Liverpool ended in a stalemate on Sunday evening, a result that the Manchester club will not be too disheartened about as they remain three points ahead of their rivals.  However, only two points behind are Man City who kick off earlier in the evening with a game in hand and a chance to leapfrog the Red Devils if they take all three points at home to Aston Villa.

Solskjaer will have undoubtedly been the happier of the two managers after the drab draw on Merseyside, however, although showing ambition and creating the best two chances of the game it is yet another big game where United have failed to take three points and could leave fans wondering whether they have what it takes to go all the way this season.

The 0-0 draw at Anfield now means that the Red Devils have now gone over a year unbeaten away from home in the Premier League which is key to United’s title push and shows the impact that talisman Bruno Fernandes has had since his arrival in January last year.

The Portuguese midfielder has been directly involved in 34 goals in 33 games in the top flight and will be eager to add to that on Wednesday night against a Fulham side who haven’t managed a victory in seven matches which dates back to the end of November.  Manchester United have also won in their previous four away games in the league against Fulham, scoring a total of 12 goals and conceding just one.

Scott Parker won’t be too bothered about United’s away record as his side have certainly made massive improvements at the back since their slow start to the season, taking points off sides such as Liverpool and Spurs.  Since the start of December the West London club have only lost two games against Chelsea and Manchester City, but it is at the top end of the pitch where struggles lie for the team, netting only three times in their last seven Premier League matches.

Since their impressive 1-1 home draw against Liverpool, the Cottagers have failed to score in their previous three home league matches, a growing concern for Parker who will look to Ademola Lookman and Ivan Cavaleiro for inspiration and creativity.

Team News

Aleksandr Mitrovic returns to the Fulham squad following a hamstring injury but is back in the team sheet and could be the one they’ve been missing to provide the goals and fire Fulham away from the drop zone to safety, a huge boost for Scott Parker’s men.

Ruben Loftus-Cheek could potentially return straight to the starting eleven as the Chelsea loanee missed out on the last match unable to face his parent club. Antonee Robinson however received a straight red card for his rash chjallenge on Chelsea skipper Cesar Azpilicueta and is suspended, most likely meaning a league start for Joe Bryan at left back for the first time since losing to Wolves in a 1-0 defeat back in early October.

Tom Cairney (knee), Terence Kongolo (thigh) are both ruled out but Mario Lemina could potentially be involved as Fulham wait on a late fitness test to decide if he makes the team.

Ole Gunnar Solsjkaer may reshuffle his starting line-up as his team face off once again against rivals Liverpool in the FA Cup at the weekend which could mean a rare league start for big money summer signing Donny Van de Beek, who has struggled to break into the united team which is down to the incredible form of Paul Pogba and the ever present Bruno Fernandes.

United have been relatively lucky this season with injuries, as Brandon Williams (knock), Marcos Rojo (calf) and Phil Jones (knee) the only players who are ruled out for the Red Devils.