Reuben Amorim prepares for his second Premier League challenge as Manchester United travel to Craven Cottage for a Sunday clash with Fulham. The Portuguese manager looks to bounce back after his team's narrow opening day defeat to Arsenal despite creating several promising opportunities.
"We showed good attacking intent against Arsenal, but football is about taking your chances. Against Fulham, we must be more clinical," – Amorim might emphasize to his squad before this crucial fixture.
The Red Devils' 1-0 loss to Arsenal felt somewhat unjust given their solid performance, particularly in attack where newcomers Bryan Mbemo and Matheus Cunha brought immediate dynamism. However, small details ultimately decided the match – where Altay Bayindir made a critical error, Arsenal's David Raya stood firm.
History certainly favors the visitors. Manchester United have won their last eight league away matches at Craven Cottage, including last season's narrow victory secured by a late Lisandro Martinez goal. Interestingly, the Argentine defender will miss Sunday's match through injury, as will Noussair Mazraoui.
Fulham enter this fixture with their own concerns. Marco Silva's side may be without both Anthony Robinson and Ryan Sessegnon on the left flank of defense, both having missed their previous match against Brighton. Up front, Rodrigo Muniz aims to cement his starting position after summer transfer speculation, competing with Smith-Rowe, Andreas Pereira, and Joshua King for attacking roles.
Bookmakers view the visitors as favorites, offering odds of 2.15 for a United win compared to 3.50 for both a Fulham victory and a draw. Can Amorim's men justify those expectations and secure their first points of the season? Or will Craven Cottage witness a repeat of last season's FA Cup drama, when Fulham eliminated United on penalties?
The match kicks off at 18:30 on Sunday, August 24, with Chris Kavanagh serving as the head referee. Looks like we're in for an intriguing London showdown.
