Pundits Divided Over Manchester United's Clash With In-Form Fulham
Football pundits Gary Neville and Ian Wright have offered starkly contrasting predictions for Manchester United's upcoming Premier League encounter with Fulham at Old Trafford this Sunday. The disagreement highlights the intriguing nature of this fixture, with both teams entering the match on impressive runs of form.
United's Resurgence Under Carrick
Manchester United have enjoyed a perfect start under interim head coach Michael Carrick, securing two significant victories. They began his tenure with a commanding 2-0 win over local rivals Manchester City, before delivering a stunning 3-2 triumph against league leaders Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium.
That result against Arsenal was particularly notable, as it ended the Gunners' unbeaten home record across all competitions this season. More importantly for United, the three points propelled them above Liverpool and into the Premier League's coveted top four positions.
Fulham's Impressive Momentum
However, Fulham present a formidable challenge. Marco Silva's side currently occupy seventh place in the table, sitting just four points behind their weekend opponents. Their recent form has been excellent, having lost only one of their last eight league matches.
The Cottagers secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Brighton in their most recent outing, thanks to a late free-kick from Harry Wilson. This resilience makes them dangerous opponents for any team, even at a venue as intimidating as Old Trafford.
Conflicting Expert Opinions
On the Stick to Football podcast, former Manchester United defender Gary Neville backed his old club to continue their winning streak. "3-1 [win for United]," Neville predicted. "This is a different type of test on Sunday, which is interesting, but I think they'll come through it."
Fellow pundit and former United captain Roy Keane echoed this confidence, albeit with a slightly more conservative scoreline. "I think United will keep it up. 2-1 [win for United]," Keane stated, joking to Neville about overanalysing the fixture.
In contrast, former Arsenal striker Ian Wright believes Fulham are capable of causing an upset. "I fancy Fulham, I would have gone 2-1 Fulham," Wright declared, highlighting the visitors' potential to secure a shock away victory.
Carrick's Cautious Approach and Injury Concerns
Ahead of the match, Michael Carrick acknowledged the quality of the opposition, insisting his team would not take anything for granted. "I think Fulham, Marco has got into a really good team," Carrick said. "So I think this one, all of a sudden, it's a different game. Just because we're at home, taking anything for granted is bang out of order, really."
United have received mixed news on the injury front. While striker Joshua Zirkzee is available for selection again, the squad has been dealt a significant blow with defender Patrick Dorgu ruled out for several weeks due to a hamstring injury.
"We're still working through how long that's going to be," Carrick confirmed regarding Dorgu. "At the moment, it looks a little bit more on the serious note. So it'll be a few weeks for that, how many weeks we'll have to wait and see. That's disappointing for all of us, really, and for Pat."
The stage is set for a compelling Premier League encounter, with expert opinion firmly divided on whether Manchester United's resurgence will continue or if Fulham's impressive form will prevail at the Theatre of Dreams.
