Ole Gunnar Solskjaer- United didn’t pounce on Liverpool’s injury crisis
Manchester United are taking on Fulham at Craven Cottage this evening in a game which could propel Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side back to the top of the Premier League. Leicester took up the mantel of league leaders after their win over Chelsea last night and Manchester City moved to the summit with victory over Aston Villa this evening, but United will restore their place at the top by the end of the night should they beat Fulham. That will be no easy task, however, given Scott Parker’s improving team are regularly causing top-half sides problems and proving a difficult nut to crack. Fulham have their own ambitions, of course, and can climb to within one point of 17th-place Burnley with a victory here.
As Parker said this week: “We’ve done remarkably well considering where we were at the start of the season. We were probably the laughing stock in terms of how people were portraying us – never was that the case in-house. We’ve done remarkably well to be fighting and punching away like we are, not just with determination and grit, but with a real style about us. It’s clear that you can see a real drastic improvement in our overall game. There was a narrative around us at the start of this season and that narrative was probably helped by the previous time we were in this division. We lost two games by more than two goals, that narrative was instantly in people’s heads, ‘Oh look, it’s the same Fulham’. I just think people were blurred a little bit by the last time we were here. I can understand why. It was certainly an area we needed to address.”
Follow all the latest updates from the Premier League meeting at Craven Cottage below.
FULHAM 1-2 MANCHESTER UNITED (90+2’)
Lemina lifts a pass over the top for Lookman, who brings it down superbly and fires a shot in from a tight angle. Wan-Bissaka makes an important block to deny Fulham.
Callum Rice-Coates20 January 2021 22:08
FULHAM 1-2 MANCHESTER UNITED (90’)
The home side are desperately trying to fashion some kind of opening as the clock ticks down. United, without looking overly convincing, are holding out for now.
There’ll be four minutes added on.
Callum Rice-Coates20 January 2021 22:06
FULHAM 1-2 MANCHESTER UNITED (86’)
Fulham have also sent Mitrovic on for Aina, so they have a real focal point up top now.
Callum Rice-Coates20 January 2021 22:01
FULHAM 1-2 MANCHESTER UNITED (85’)
Fulham, to their credit, are giving this a go. Lemina fires a shot over from 20 yards.
Solskjaer opts to make a late double change: McTominay and Rashford replace Greenwood and Martial.
Callum Rice-Coates20 January 2021 22:01
FULHAM 1-2 MANCHESTER UNITED (84’)
Chance! Fulham break quickly through Loftus-Cheek, who finds Lookman and then continues his run into the box. When the cross comes in, the ball deflects into the path of Loftus-Cheek, who can only lash a shot over the bar. He punches the ground in frustration, while an exasperated Scott Parker looks up the heavens.
Callum Rice-Coates20 January 2021 22:00
FULHAM 1-2 MANCHESTER UNITED (82’)
Another United corner is sent into the box and comes out to Fred on the edge of the D. His first-time shot looks like it’s heading for the bottom right corner but it’s blocked amid a sea of red and white shirts.
Callum Rice-Coates20 January 2021 21:58
FULHAM 1-2 MANCHESTER UNITED (80’)
Loftus-Cheek charges forward again and draws a foul from Fred. Reeds floats the set piece into the box, but no one attacks it.
Callum Rice-Coates20 January 2021 21:56
FULHAM 1-2 MANCHESTER UNITED (79’)
A short corner routine doesn’t really have the desired effect for United as Fred sends a cross out for a goal kick. Fulham have sent on Lemina in place of Anguissa.
Callum Rice-Coates20 January 2021 21:55
FULHAM 1-2 MANCHESTER UNITED (77’)
Fernandes plays a terrible pass straight to the feet of Kamara, who races forward and looks to pick out Reed. The Fulham midfielder’s first touch lets him down and Fernandes, tracking back after his mistake, makes amends with a well-timed tackle.
Callum Rice-Coates20 January 2021 21:53
FULHAM 1-2 MANCHESTER UNITED (75’)
Chance! Anguissa plays a defence-splitting through ball into the path of Loftus-Cheek, who fires a low shot at goal. De Gea saves with his right leg, and then Tete sends a cross flashing past the far post. Scott Parker looks dejected on the touchline because that was a real opportunity.
Callum Rice-Coates20 January 2021 21:51
