Man Utd play Fulham in the Premier League on Sunday and here is how our writers think they should line up.
05:00, 01 Feb 2026
United take on Fulham today.(Image: Getty Images)
Manchester United take on Fulham in the Premier League this afternoon. Michael Carrick is looking to win a third successive Premier League game after impressive wins against Manchester City and Arsenal.
Carrick has made the perfect start to his interim role, but Fulham will pose a different challenge at Old Trafford, which should provide further clues about the improvements United have made.
Fulham are seventh in the Premier League and have one of the most in-form forwards in the topflight, Harry Wilson, in their ranks. Regarding the team news, Joshua Zirkzee has returned to training this week but Matthijs de Ligt remain sidelined, while Patrick Dorgu has been ruled out after picking up a hamstring injury but the exact length of his absence is unclear.
Try MEN Premium NOW for just £1
FOLLOW OUR MAN UNITED FACEBOOK PAGE! Latest news and analysis via the MEN’s Manchester United Facebook page
This is how our writers think United should line up…
Tyrone Marshall
Injuries mean there will be at least one change for United this week and I would make a couple. The challenge of keeping all of these players fit and motivated with so few games is a real challenge for Carrick.
The defence picks itself though. Lammens has been good recently and there is a really good balance to the back four of Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and Luke Shaw.
There is a reluctance to change the midfield, as well. Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo have dovetailed really well and have the skills to break Fulham down, as does Bruno Fernandes back in the No. 10 role.
I would bring Matheus Cunha in for the injured Dorgu, but also give Benjamin Sesko a start. He needs a chance to get his confidence going again. Bryan Mbeumo can play on the right, with Amad dropping to the bench. It’s harsh, but it shows the depth Carrick has in attack.
Tyrone Marshall’s Manchester United starting XI to take on Fulham
Steven Railston
Dalot, Maguire, Martinez and Shaw have been excellent over the last fortnight. There is also promising chemistry developing ahead of the backline, so I’d make no changes in defence or midfield.
I would have started Dorgu if he hadn’t picked up an injury. Cunha has been great off the bench, and his skillset may be better suited to facing Fulham, however, Dorgu was in the middle of a purple patch, so I wouldn’t have disrupted his momentum.
Unfortunately, we’ll never know if that hot streak would have continued, but Cunha certainly isn’t a bad option to bring into the side. I didn’t want to rest Amad, but there are limited games and Sesko deserves a crack.
Jack Flintham
United are in good form and the beauty of that means the team mostly picks itself. If Dorgu had been fit this weekend, it would have been surprising to not pick the same starting XI.
With Dorgu out, it makes sense to welcome last weekend’s matchwinner Cunha back into the starting line-up. The Brazilian has been tremendous off the bench recently but can stake a real claim to start more regularly while Dorgu is injured
Mainoo has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of Carrick arriving at Old Trafford and his partnership with Casemiro is proving to be successful. Sesko may have to wait a little longer for a start though.
Mbeumo is looking so dangerous as the centre-forward and I am not sure you can change that at this stage.
Jack Flintham’s Manchester United XI to take on Fulham in the Premier League
Content cannot be displayed without consent