Manchester United Aim to Halt Slide at Craven Cottage
Manchester United head to Craven Cottage on Sunday not just for three points, but to stop a slide that has gathered speed in the space of four bruising days.
A heavy defeat in the Manchester derby, an EFL Cup exit to Brighton & Hove Albion, and only one win from their opening four Premier League games have left Michael Carrick’s side marooned in 13th place. The mood has darkened quickly. The response now has to be just as sharp.
Carrick is expected to rip up the midweek blueprint. The cup side that folded against Brighton will not be the one that walks out in west London. A spine of first-choice players is set to return, with the manager leaning back on experience and familiar partnerships as he tries to steady a listing start to the season.
Injuries bite, but key figures return
The treatment room remains busy. Carlos Baleba is still out with an ankle problem, joining longer-term casualties Manuel Ugarte (knee), Tom Heaton and Amad Diallo. Diallo has yet to play a single minute this season after damaging his ankle in pre-season, a frustrating halt to his momentum.
There is at least a glimmer of progress for Matthijs de Ligt. The defender continues his recovery from back surgery and has stepped up to individual training, though he has not yet rejoined full sessions with the main group and will not be rushed back into the firing line.
On the positive side, Luke Shaw is ready to return. The left-back missed the defeats to Brighton and Manchester City with a minor muscular issue but is now in line to reclaim his place, likely pushing Noussair Mazraoui out of the XI. That change alone reshapes United’s build-up play down the left and restores a familiar balance to the back four.
Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez are expected to come back into central defence, with Senne Lammens set to start in goal. Diogo Dalot should keep his place at right-back, giving Carrick a back line that, on paper, looks far closer to his strongest available unit.
In midfield, Kobbie Mainoo is tipped to replace Andrey Santos. Mainoo’s composure and range of passing could be crucial in a game where United must control tempo rather than simply chase it.
Further forward, the selection calls are harsher. Marcus Rashford is at genuine risk of dropping out of the side, with Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo all pushing to start in support of Benjamin Sesko. Sesko, still waiting for his first Premier League start of the season, is poised to lead the line at Craven Cottage and offer a more direct, penalty-box presence.
Predicted Manchester United XI
Carrick is expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1, built around a stronger core and a clearer attacking structure:
Senne Lammens; Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw; Kobbie Mainoo, Youri Tielemans; Bryan Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha; Benjamin Sesko.
That setup leans on Fernandes as the creative hub, Mbeumo and Cunha to stretch and disrupt, and Sesko to finally stamp his authority on a Premier League game from the first whistle.
Kick-off and TV details
Fulham vs Manchester United kicks off at 16:30 on Sunday, 20 September 2026, in the Premier League.
The match will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event.
United arrive wounded, under scrutiny, and already chasing the pack. Craven Cottage will show whether this is just an early-season stumble, or the start of something far more troubling.
