Manchester United Seek Control Against Fulham at Craven Cottage

Manchester United head to Craven Cottage on Sunday searching for something they have badly lacked in the past week: control.

Back-to-back blows – a bruising Manchester derby defeat and an EFL Cup exit to Brighton & Hove Albion in the space of four days – have left Michael Carrick’s side stuck in 13th after just one win from their opening four Premier League games. The mood around the club 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 to Brighton should bear little resemblance to the XI that walks out in west London, with a string of first-choice players primed to return and reassert some authority.

Injuries bite, but key figures return

The treatment room still has a familiar look. Carlos Baleba remains out with an ankle problem, while Manuel Ugarte continues his recovery from a knee injury. Tom Heaton and Amad Diallo are also sidelined, with Diallo yet to play a minute this season after damaging his ankle in pre-season.

There is a glimmer of longer-term good news in defence. Matthijs de Ligt has stepped up his comeback from back surgery and is back in individual training. He is not yet ready to rejoin full sessions, though, so this one comes too soon.

On the left, Manchester United should be reinforced. Luke Shaw, who sat out the defeats to Brighton and Manchester City with a minor muscular issue, is in line to reclaim his place at left-back. That would push Noussair Mazraoui out of the side, with Diogo Dalot expected to keep his spot on the opposite flank.

At centre-back, Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez are set to return and restore a more familiar partnership in front of new goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who is in line to start again.

Mainoo to anchor, big calls in attack

Midfield is likely to have a different feel. Kobbie Mainoo is expected to come back into the side and should displace Andrey Santos, offering Carrick more control at the base. Youri Tielemans is tipped to partner him in a double pivot in a 4-2-3-1.

The real intrigue lies higher up the pitch. Marcus Rashford’s place is under threat. With goals drying up and performances faltering, Carrick is weighing a reshuffle behind the striker.

Bruno Fernandes is set to return to his favoured central role, with Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo likely to operate either side of him. That trio would line up behind Benjamin Sesko, who is pushing for his first Premier League start of the season and carries the burden of leading the line at a time when United badly need a focal point.

The predicted XI reads:

Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Mainoo, Tielemans; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Cunha; Sesko.

Time, place, and the stakes

Kick-off at Craven Cottage is scheduled for 16:30 on Sunday, 20 September 2026, with live coverage on Sky Sports Main Event in the UK.

United arrive wounded, under scrutiny, and already chasing the pack. Craven Cottage has seen plenty of visiting teams wilt under pressure. On Sunday, we find out whether Carrick’s reshaped side can handle it – or whether this shaky start hardens into something far more serious.