Pressure Mounts on Michael Carrick as Manchester United Travel to Face Fulham

One month into the new Premier League season, excuses about bedding-in processes and newly assembled squads needing time to gel are wearing thin, and for Manchester United there is an acute sense of urgency as the international break looms. United are by no mere means the only 'big club' enduring a faltering start to the campaign, but after so much pre-season optimism, the spotlight has fallen very much on manager Michael Carrick ahead of Sunday's trip to Fulham at Craven Cottage in London, United Kingdom.

United have lost three of their six matches in all competitions and suffered a damaging League Cup exit on Wednesday, surrendering a 2-0 lead to Brighton & Hove Albion, following a previous defeat noted earlier against Brighton as well. Their only win in four league games came at home to promoted Ipswich Town. United started the better in the VAR-dominated Manchester derby last Sunday, but played second fiddle to the away team after City were reduced to ten men.

Meanwhile, the London club have made a slow start under new manager Alvaro Arbeloa and are yet to win in the league. A draw at Liverpool last week and a League Cup win at West Ham United in midweek offered glimpses of better things to come.

Discussing the team's poor start, manager Michael Carrick accepted responsibility while emphasizing solutions over blame. “It’s my responsibility and I’m fine with that. It’s not a blame game. Blame me, no problem, but it’s not about blaming people,” said the 45-year-old boss. “It’s about finding solutions. It’s a whole collective thing. It’s about what you focus on. I know where we want to get to and we want to get there fast.”

Reflecting on previous meetings, United won 3-2 in their last encounter in the Premier League at Old Trafford on February 1, featuring goals from Casemiro, Matheus Cunha, a penalty by Raul Jiminez, and injury-time strikes from Benjamin Sesko and Kevin. Last season at Craven Cottage, the teams shared a 1-1 draw with goals from Emile Smith Rowe and an own goal by Rodrigo Muniz. Fulham's last win against United was a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford on February 24, 2024, featuring goals from Calvin Bassey, Harry Maguire, and a winner by Alex Iwobi. However, Fulham has not recorded a home win against United at Craven Cottage since December 2009, when Danny Murphy, Bobby Zamora, and Damien Duff sealed a 3-0 victory.

Opta’s supercomputer gives Manchester United a 47.4 percent chance of winning this 94th historical meeting, where United have previously won 59 times compared to Fulham's 14 victories, while offering Fulham a 28.3 percent chance.

Team news indicates Fulham will miss Kenny Tete due to concussion protocols after Anfield last week, and Tom Cairney is absent with a knee injury, while Ryan Sessegnon faces a late fitness test. Fulham's predicted lineup features Leno; Castagne, Affengruber, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Charles; Bobb, King, Iwobi; Garcia.

Manchester United will make a late decision on Luke Shaw and Carlos Baleba due to ankle problems, while Manuel Ugarte, Tom Heaton, Matthijs de Ligt, and Amad Diallo remain sidelined. United's predicted lineup includes Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Mainoo, Tielemans; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko.