Fulham vs Manchester United - LIVE
Lisandro Martinez’s deflected strike was enough to give Manchester United a 1-0 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage. For 77 minutes, United had failed to register a single shot on target in a forgettable encounter, one in which Fulham were on top without really threatening to open the scoring.
But the goal came at the other end and in fortunate fashion, as Martinez tried his luck from distance and the ball flicked off Sasa Lukic, looping over Bernd Leno and into the back of the net. Fulham were inches away from snatching a late equaliser, when Joachim Andersen flicked on a header at the near post from a corner, but Toby Collyer was back on the line to clear.
Amad Diallo thought he had sealed victory deep into stoppage-time as he found the bottom corner, only for VAR to rule it out for offside, but United still ensured they left west London with all three points.
Fulham vs Man United latest news
- GOAL! Martinez breaks deadlock with deflected strike
- HT: Goalless at the break
FT: Fulham 0-1 Man United
20:56 , Matt VerriThere is the full-time whistle.
Victory for Man United, despite offering basically nothing in attack for 78 minutes.
A deflected strike from Martinez is enough for victory.
Fulham 0-1 Man United
20:55 , Matt Verri90+8 mins: Bassey sends the ball long... and straight out of play.
Not fully sure why we’re still playing, but on we go.
NO GOAL!
20:53 , Matt VerriVAR rules it out for offside.
Shouldn’t matter for Man United...
GOAL! Fulham 0-2 Man United | Amad Diallo 90+5'
20:52 , Matt VerriThat’ll do it!
Man United break, Mainoo flicks it inside and Amad takes his time before finding the bottom corner.
Fulham 0-1 Man United
20:50 , Matt Verri90+3 mins: No surprise that United have everyone camped deep in their own half.
Traore swings in a deep cross, all the way through to Robinson.
He puts it back into the middle, drops for Muniz and he lashes a strike over the bar.
Fulham 0-1 Man United
20:48 , Matt Verri90 mins: Six minutes added on...
Still time for Fulham.
Fulham 0-1 Man United
20:46 , Matt Verri89 mins: OFF THE LINE!
Wow. Whipped into the near post, Andersen flicks the header on and Collyer is there to clear what looked to be a certain goal.
Referee has a look at his watch - no goal.
Fulham 0-1 Man United
20:45 , Matt Verri88 mins: Robinson whips a cross in, Onana comes out to claim but Maguire is there in front of him to head clear.
Fulham win another corner - pressure is starting to build.
Fulham 0-1 Man United
20:42 , Matt Verri85 mins: Fair to say Onana is not in a rush as he takes his sweet time over a goal-kick.
Away end is in fine voice, serenading Ruben Amorim.
Fulham 0-1 Man United
20:40 , Matt Verri82 mins: Lukic and Smith Rowe off, Cairney and Pereira on for for Fulham.
Andersen very nearly underhits a backpass to Leno, Amad is interested... Leno just about gets there.
Fulham 0-1 Man United
20:37 , Matt Verri80 mins: Amorim turns straight to his bench.
Mainoo and Malacia are on, replacing Garnacho and Mazraoui.
Dom Smith at Craven Cottage
20:36 , Matt VerriIt's a horrible nick off Lukic that Martinez's speculative effort takes. Leno is helpless, and his fingertip is not enough.
Cruel on Fulham, who do not deserve to be behind by any stretch of the imagination..
GOAL! Fulham 0-1 Man United | Lisandro Martinez 78'
20:35 , Matt VerriAN ACTUAL GOAL!
No surprise that it comes in fortunate fashion. Martinez tries his luck from distance, it takes a massive deflection and beats Leno.
Fulham 0-0 Man United
20:33 , Matt Verri75 mins: It’s a one-man mission to make something happen for us. Traore doing heroic work.
Traore shifts the ball onto his right foot, space opens up for the shot... lashed high and wide.
Martinez decides to then pick a fight with Traore. Mismatch doesn’t do it justice.
Fulham 0-0 Man United
20:30 , Matt Verri73 mins: Traore tries going around people this time and has a bit more luck.
Too quick for Fernandes, Yoro decides to not even move, and Ugarte then flies in and cleans him out.
Yellow card, for all Ugarte tries to delay it by staying down for 30 seconds.
Fulham 0-0 Man United
20:29 , Matt Verri72 mins: First corner of the match coming up. Contain your excitement.
Fulham win it as Maguire has to head behind with Muniz coming in at the back post.
Swung to the near post, Zirkzee flicks a header away and Garnacho completes the clearing job.
Fulham 0-0 Man United
20:28 , Matt Verri70 mins: Traore with a chance to run at the ball - decides to instead run through three United players. And I do mean through.
Doesn’t work for him.
Dom Smith at Craven Cottage
20:26 , Matt VerriInto the final third of this match, then. It's been a slow burner, for sure, but Fulham have been the better side.
Can they make that pay by finding a winner from somewhere?
Fulham 0-0 Man United
20:24 , Matt Verri66 mins: United seeing more and more of the ball, Fulham sitting back in their shape.
These two continue to cancel each other out, neither wanting to take any risks at the moment. Or for the last 66 minutes of moments.
Fulham 0-0 Man United
20:20 , Matt Verri63 mins: “Attack, attack, attack.”
The Man United fans are getting fairly fed up with what they’re seeing from their side. Again.
Jimenez off for Fulham replaced by Muniz.
Fulham 0-0 Man United
20:17 , Matt Verri60 mins: Castagne again goes to ground, tripping up Garnacho.
Not sure how he’s avoided a yellow between that and the foul a few minutes ago. Fair play.
Fulham 0-0 Man United
20:15 , Matt Verri57 mins: Is this too close for Fernandes?
Really clever effort, drills it low under the wall as they jump. Into the side-netting, with Leno scrambling across.
Two United changes. De Ligt and Hojlund off, Yoro and Zirkzee on.
Fulham 0-0 Man United
20:13 , Matt Verri56 mins: Castagne slides in riiiight on the edge of his own area and brings down Mazraoui.
Free-kick, that was inches away from being a penalty.
Dom Smith at Craven Cottage
20:11 , Matt VerriThat's an injury Marco Silva could really do without.
Harry Wilson has really stepped up for him this season. Fulham will pray it is nothing too serious.
Fulham 0-0 Man United
20:10 , Matt Verri53 mins: Signal to the bench is that Wilson will have to come off.
Traore quickly getting ready to come on - not sure that’s great news for United.
Fulham 0-0 Man United
20:08 , Matt Verri51 mins: Concern here for Fulham, Wilson has gone down.
He’s stretching out his left leg, physios are on to give him some treatment.
Fulham 0-0 Man United
20:05 , Matt Verri48 mins: Hojlund has spent a lot of his time falling to the floor when trying to hold the ball up.
Does so again here as Andersen closes him down, and Hojlund is very grateful the whistle comes this time.
Back underway!
20:02 , Matt VerriUp and running in the second-half!
More struggles for Man United
19:55 , Matt VerriOne shot. None on target.
It’s been fairly miserable in attack from Man United. Offered pretty much nothing.
Hojlund has really struggled to hold the ball up, and Amad has hardly had a kick.
Dom Smith at Craven Cottage
19:48 , Matt VerriAnd Anthony Taylor brings to an end a first half which lacked real end-to-end action but which will leave Marco Silva feeling much the happier manager.
HT: Fulham 0-0 Man United
19:47 , Matt VerriHalf-time at Craven Cottage.
It’s not exactly been a classic...
Fulham 0-0 Man United
19:45 , Matt Verri45 mins: Iwobi dinks a cross into the box, Jimenez appealing for a penalty - did Martinez pull him down? Referee says no.
One minute added on.
Fulham 0-0 Man United
19:42 , Matt Verri42 mins: Needless foul out wide from Berge, good position this for United.
Fernandes clips it in, De Ligt wins the header but it takes a deflection and falls kindly for Leno to jump on.
Fulham 0-0 Man United
19:41 , Matt Verri41 mins: Bassey does well to avoid a yellow card.
Stops Amad’s run with near enough a forearm smash, but advantage is played and the referee doesn’t go back to book the Fulham man.
Fulham 0-0 Man United
19:38 , Matt Verri38 mins: And now a better chance for Jimenez.
Robinson is away down the left, Dalot can’t stay with him.
Decent ball in, Jimenez’s first touch takes him wide and he then slices an effort off target from a tight angle.
Dom Smith at Craven Cottage
19:38 , Matt VerriSighter from Jimenez. As soon as he picked up the ball, you knew he was about to take on that shot.
Not this time son.
Fulham 0-0 Man United
19:36 , Matt Verri36 mins: Ugarte gets a hand in the face from Bassey, and in the process of going down holding his face manages to trip up the defender and concede a free-kick.
Fairly impressive.
Fulham 0-0 Man United
19:33 , Matt Verri33 mins: Chance here for United, as they win a free-kick about 35 yards out. Up come the defenders.
Fernandes clips it in, decent ball but Berge is there in his own six-yard box to win the header.
Fulham 0-0 Man United
19:31 , Matt Verri31 mins: It’s being played at walking pace when United have the ball.
Maguire just strolling around, waiting for somebody to move in front of him. Nobody is.
Dom Smith at Craven Cottage
19:29 , Matt VerriManchester United have simply no outlet here.
Fulham keep winning the ball back almost instantly after losing it. Their fans, of course, are loving it.
Fulham 0-0 Man United
19:29 , Matt Verri28 mins: And breathe...
Andersen launches a pass back to Leno, who produces a brilliant first touch to get that under control. Bassey then turns his way out of trouble.
Outrageously calm from the two of them and it’s worked out.
Fulham 0-0 Man United
19:26 , Matt Verri25 mins: United think Lukic has made two fouls in about four seconds - referee waves play on both times.
Amad stayed down after the second of them, but he’s back up now.
Ugarte decides to get involved, absolutely wipes out Wilson. Now that is a foul.
Fulham 0-0 Man United
19:24 , Matt Verri23 mins: Amad, Fernandes, Hojlund... they’ve all barely had a touch.
Robinson is getting joy down the left, but his delivery into the box has been unusually wayward so far.
Fulham 0-0 Man United
19:20 , Matt Verri20 mins: First sign of United doing something in attack.
Garnacho skips past Wilson and plays it to Mazraoui, who stands up a cross to the back post. Fulham deal with it.
Fulham 0-0 Man United
19:19 , Matt Verri19 mins: Fulham look far by the more likely to make something happen.
Iwobi allowed to cut inside past Dalot onto his right foot, powerful strike but it’s right at Onana.
He fumbles it, but gathers at the second attempt.
Dom Smith at Craven Cottage
19:16 , Matt VerriFulham starting to build some meaningful possession in this fixture.
No surprise really, they are the favourites, after all.
Fulham 0-0 Man United
19:16 , Matt Verri15 mins: Wilson plays the pass in behind Maguire, only problem is nobody in a white shirt is within 30 yards of it.
Hojlund then robbed of the ball, Fulham have space to break into.
Comes to Smith Rowe, who can’t get a clean strike away at goal as Onana charges off his line. A great challenge from Martinez in the end.
Fulham 0-0 Man United
19:12 , Matt Verri12 mins: There is a lot of space in midfield for Fulham when they win it back, United are there to be countered on.
Jimenez tries to bundle his way through on the edge of the box, United need a couple of attempts to clear as De Ligt slides in.
Fulham 0-0 Man United
19:08 , Matt Verri8 mins: Fulham growing in confidence, starting to push United back.
Iwobi gets to the byline, ball into the middle is hacked away by Maguire.
Dom Smith at Craven Cottage
19:06 , Matt VerriSlow start to this affair, but noticeable already - just as this season on a whole - that Raul Jimenez's hold-up play is miles better than it was last term.
The confidence of returning to his previous status of goalscoring striker (rather than just 'striker') has done his overall game the world of good.
Fulham 0-0 Man United
19:06 , Matt Verri5 mins: Iwobi picks up the ball just inside the United half and drives straight at the defence.
Allowed to bring the ball all the way into the box before getting the low strike away at goal. Onana down to save comfortably.
Fulham 0-0 Man United
19:04 , Matt Verri3 mins: Not much to report in the opening minutes.
Neither side has really got going yet. Amad tries to inject a bit of pace with a one-man press - Leno just about clears the ball in time.
KICK-OFF!
19:01 , Matt VerriUp and running at Craven Cottage!
Here we go...
18:57 , Matt VerriTeams are out, in this final match of the Premier League weekend.
We’ve had big wins, controversy with referees... time for what promises to be a really entertaining match.
Not long now!
18:49 , Matt VerriWarm-ups are done at Craven Cottage.
Players will be out again in the next couple of minutes. Haven’t been many matches where Fulham are favourites to beat Man United, but this is one of them!
Silva: Fulham can finish in the top half
18:41 , Matt VerriMarco Silva, meanwhile, is eyeing a top-half finish for Fulham.
His side sit 10th in the table as it stands, but victory here would move them to within five points of the top four.
"We want to do better than last season and our target is to finish top half and of course when you're there you have many things to fight for," Silva said.
"We want to do better than the first half of this season but there's room to improve. The trust in ourselves and performance-wise has been some of the best this season at this football club, we've been dominant and in a style I want to see on the pitch.
"To do this you need to be top of confidence. I want us to be consistent so we achieve better results."
Amorim: We just need to win
18:34 , Matt VerriRuben Amorim has been speaking ahead of kick-off.
He’s made it clear that although he wants to see a better performance, all that matters is Man United picking up all three points.
Amorim says: “ I want to see a better performance. But in the end even if we win not playing well it’s important for us.
“We want to improve on the ball and more time without suffering a goal.”
On the opening night of the season...
18:24 , Matt VerriThis feels a long time ago!
In the opening match of the Premier League campaign, Man United edged a tight encounter with Fulham at Old Trafford.
Joshua Zirkzee gave Erik ten Hag’s side a 1-0 win - fair bit has changed since then.
Garnacho to stay at Man United?
18:16 , Matt VerriVery interesting that Alejandro Garnacho starts tonight.
Napoli have confirmed their interest in the winger in recent days, while Chelsea are also considering a move in the final week of the transfer window.
Asked on Friday about Garnacho’s future, Ruben Amorim said: "Let's see in the next few days.”
It had been thought that Man United were willing to sell for the right price, but has that changed?
Dom Smith at Craven Cottage
18:09 , Matt VerriMan United sit 14th in the table as it stands - they HAVE to start moving up.
"Man United are really in need of picking up their form in the Premier League."
— Standard Sport (@standardsport) January 26, 2025
🗣 @MrDomSmith gives his pre-match thoughts from Craven Cottage as the visitors face a serious test.
LIVE: https://t.co/lbKa48Hs0X #FULMUN pic.twitter.com/DgjnaNxj7D
In the building!
17:57 , Matt VerriThe visitors have arrived at Craven Cottage...
Evening, Ruben 👋#MUFC || #FULMUN pic.twitter.com/dh7zlAxdmM
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 26, 2025
Fulham team news
17:49 , Matt VerriStarting XI: Leno, Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson, Lukic, Berge, Wilson, Smith Rowe, Iwobi, Jimenez
Subs: Benda, Diop, Cuenca, Reed, Pereira, Cairney, Adama, King, Muniz
Man United team news
17:45 , Matt VerriStarting XI: Onana, De Ligt, Maguire, Martinez, Mazraoui, Ugarte, Fernandes, Dalot, Amad, Garnacho, Hojlund
Subs: Bayindir, Lindelof, Malacia, Yoro, Casemiro, Collyer, Eriksen, Mainoo, Zirkzee.
Napoli consider Garnacho move
17:38 , Matt VerriNapoli have confirmed their interest in signing Alejandro Garnacho before the January transfer window deadline.
Manchester United are not actively looking to sell Garnacho but the club have decided to listen to offers for high-value homegrown players such as Garnacho and Kobbie Mainoo.
Chelsea are understood to be monitoring Garnacho’s situation and considering an approach, with United looking for around £60m to part ways with the South American.
Napoli sporting director Giovanni Manna has confirmed that Garnacho is one of a number of targets to replace Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, who joined Paris Saint-Germain earlier in the window for £70m.
Manna told Gianluca Di Marzio: "Karim Adeyemi and Alejandro Garnacho are two names that interest us, that we like. They are not the only ones, we will try to evaluate the opportunities.
"We will certainly not pay off-market prices. Kvara [Khvicha Kvaratskhelia] must be replaced, a transfer for the player's will
"We are not holding back. We also have other ideas, let's see what happens in the next few days."
Stage is set!
17:30 , Matt VerriJust over 15 minutes until we get all the team news from Craven Cottage.
Sunday evening in the capital 🏟️#MUFC || #FULMUN pic.twitter.com/NlY8hSblLL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) January 26, 2025
Man United handed major boost after Government support
17:16 , Matt VerriManchester United has welcomed the announcement of Government support for the project to regenerate the area around Old Trafford, with chief executive Omar Berrada describing it as a "once-in-a-lifetime opportunity".
A UK Treasury statement on Saturday evening said Chancellor Rachel Reeves was championing the Old Trafford project as "a shining example" of the Government's plans to promote economic growth.
A world-leading new venue - either redeveloping the current stadium to increase capacity to 87,000 or build a new ground which could hold 100,000 fans - is at the heart of the regeneration project.
"The delivery of a world-class stadium can be the catalyst for major regeneration of an area of Greater Manchester which requires new investment to thrive again," Berrada said in a statement published on the United website.
"We cannot achieve that wider aim on our own, which is why we welcome the announcement by the Chancellor and the ongoing support of the Mayor of Greater Manchester (Andy Burnham) and Trafford Council.
"If we work together, there is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to create a landmark project around Old Trafford that the whole region can be proud of."
Why is it a 7pm kick-off?
17:08 , Matt VerriThe match at Craven Cottage has been selected for TV coverage by TNT Sports, which is usually reserved for the 12.30pm kick-off slot on a Saturday.
But because of United’s participation in the Europa League this week, the date of their clash against Fulham has been pushed back a day.
The kick-off time has been altered too. Manchester United are usually in the 2pm or 4.30pm slot on a Sunday, which has been the case all season following their European fixtures on a Thursday.
Instead they are in the rather unusual 7pm GMT timeslot tonight.
The game cannot clash with the two Sky Sports games on Sunday. Sky showed Crystal Palace vs Brentford at 2pm, followed by Aston Villa vs West Ham from Villa Park at 4.30pm.
Standard Sport prediction
17:00 , Matt VerriFulham will be licking their lips at the prospect of playing a United side in such dire form.
The hosts have been far more impressive than United this season and can justify their status as favourites.
Fulham to win, 2-1.
Man United team news
16:52 , Matt VerriManchester United have been sweating over the fitness of Noussair Mazraoui, Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt.
Mazraoui missed Thursday’s Europa League game against Rangers with a knock and Yoro and De Ligt both had to be substituted in that 2-1 win at Old Trafford.
Asked whether Yoro and De Ligt would be fit to face Fulham, Ruben Amorim said on Friday: “I dont know. Leny has a pain and Mata [Matthijs] was a bruise from a touch.
“Leny was a little bit tired, he is playing more in this moment, so we have to be really careful and we will see. I don't know.”
Andre Onana is in line to return in goal after Altay Bayindir started against Rangers, while Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte will come back into the team after being rested on Thursday.
Alejandro Garnacho is in the squad that has travelled to London and could be involved amid transfer links with Chelsea and Napoli.
Man Utd predicted XI: Onana; Mazaroui, Maguire, Martinez; Diallo, Ugarte, Mainoo, Dalot; Garnacho, Fernandes; Zirkzee
Fulham team news
16:45 , Matt VerriReiss Nelson has recently returned to training in a boost for Fulham, albeit this game is likely to come too soon.
Kenny Tete will not be available until the end of March or early April.
How to watch Fulham vs Man United
16:36 , Matt VerriTV channel: The game will be broadcast on TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate. Coverage starts at 6pm GMT ahead of a 7pm kick-off time.
Live stream: Subscribers will be able to watch on a live stream via the Discovery+ app.
LIVE coverage: Follow all the action right here with us!
Good afternoon!
16:29 , Matt VerriHello and welcome to Standard Sport’s LIVE coverage of Fulham vs Manchester United!
It’s a big clash at Craven Cottage to bring an end to the weekend’s action - Fulham go into this one as the favourites.
We’ll have all the latest updates, build-up and team news ahead of kick-off, which comes at 7pm GMT!
