Manchester United seek to continue their FA Cup title defence in a tricky fifth-round tie against Fulham.
Victory would see Utd reach the Quarter-Final stage in three consecutive seasons for the first time since a seven-season streak between 2014-15 & 20-21 seasons.
Fulham are seeking a second Quarter-Final appearance in three seasons, having seen their 2022-23 run ended by Utd at that stage.
Team News
Patrick Dorgu is suspended for Man Utd as he starts a three-match ban following his red card in their Premier League win over Ipswich.
Alejandro Garnacho is a doubt with a knock and faces a late fitness test.
Jonny Evans, Kobbie Mainoo (both muscle), Lisandro Martinez (knee), Mason Mount (leg), Amad Diallo (ankle), Tobias Collyer (knock), Altay Bayindir and Luke Shaw (both unspecified) are still sidelined.
Fulham could welcome Emile Smith Rowe back after he missed their win at Wolves with a minor ankle injury.
Harry Wilson (metatarsal), Kenny Tete (shin) and Reiss Nelson (hamstring) remain absent.
When is Kick-Off?
Man Utd host Fulham at Old Trafford on Sunday 2 March at 4:30pm GMT, live on BBC One in the UK.
Stat Attack
- Man Utd are unbeaten in 11 meetings across their last nine FA Cup ties against Fulham (W9, D2), of which two of those nine ties needed a replay.
- Fulham have won one of their nine previous FA Cup visits to Man Utd (W1, D2, L6)
- Both Utd and Fulham have scored in their last three FA Cup meetings at Old Trafford, during which the Red Devils scored nine goals to Fulham’s three.
- All three of Man Utd’s FA Cup goals this season came after half-time.
- Three of Fulham’s six FA Cup goals this season were scored by Rodrigo Muniz.
Prediction
Having scraped a clinical league win over Ipswich purely through slices of lucky end product from set-piece work, Man Utd need to buckle up their open-play final touches because they otherwise were pretty poor and a huge improvement is needed if want to stand a great chance of defending their title.
Fulham meanwhile simply had an off day in their league loss to Crystal Palace last weekend because they were back to their energetic in their win at Wolves, which is well-timed because if they bring that quality here then this is their best chance of a rare win on Utd’s home turf in years.
Utd though got lucky against Arsenal and Leicester in the last two rounds so it wouldn’t be surprising if they somehow pull this off, but I seriously don’t see Fulham passing this sitting duck of an opportunity up especially after two narrow defeats in their league meetings this season.
Prediction: Man Utd 1-2 Fulham
Result: Man Utd 1-1 Fulham (Fulham win 4-3 on penalties)
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