Man Utd vs Fulham Preview, Team News, Likely Line-ups & Predicted Score

Manchester United welcome Fulham to Old Trafford in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Saturday evening.

United had to see-off West Ham at the second attempt in the third round after beating the Hammers 1-0 in a replay at Old Trafford last week. It required a stunning late Robin van Persie strike to force a replay as the initial game at Upton Park ended 2-2 and a stalemate is probably the last thing Sir Alex Ferguson wants this weekend.

Ferguson knows all too well that it’s been nine years since his side last lifted the FA Cup so he will be doing all he can to get his men to Wembley this year.

United currently sit top of the Premier League and welcome a Fulham side who are struggling in recent weeks having won just once in their last seven league games. So Martin Jol will be looking for a positive result to give his squad a welcome boost in confidence this weekend.

Team News

Ferguson confirmed at his weekly press conference on Friday that he’s without the services of Ashley Young and Jonny Evans for the game. Both players have taken part in light training this week over in Qatar but won’t be considered for the Fulham clash.

However, Chris Smalling and Phil Jones are available and are both likely to start as Fergie is expected to make some changes for the game. Robin van Persie may get a rest while Nani could start his first game in weeks after recovering from a hamstring problem.

Kieran Richardson is a doubt to take on his former team as he’s nursing a calf strain that kept him out of last weekend’s defeat to Manchester City. Dimitar Berbatov is expected to play against his former employers having left United for Craven Cottage in the summer.

Mahamadou Diarra and Kerim Frei are both out injured.

Likely Line-ups

Predicted Score

Fulhams record at Old Trafford is awful having won just once in 50 years and we can’t see this trend changing on Saturday. Man Utd will have far too much for the Londoners. Man Utd 3-0 Fulham

What would your starting eleven be and what’s your score prediction? Leave your suggestions in the comments section below.