Follow all the action as Manchester United host Fulham in the Premier League this evening.
Protests against the Glazer ownership have overshadowed United’s recent fixtures, with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side suffering back-to-back defeats at home against Leicester City and Liverpool. Around 10,000 supporters will return to Old Trafford tonight and their animosity in the wake of the Super League scandal could lead to a somewhat hostile atmosphere. “We’re hoping Tuesday is going to be a positive day, that we move together, play a good game of football, because that’s my job – to prepare the team to play well and that they’ll enjoy the day,” Solskjaer said ahead of the match after admitting the protests may have impacted his side’s recent performances. “That’s important, that we get back and enjoy being together. The mood in any club, and the relationship between a team and the fans, is vital to what happens on the pitch.”
Meanwhile, Fulham have already succumbed to relegation, despite a valiant effort to avoid such a fate in the second half of the season, and Scott Parker’s are now already preparing for life back in the Championship. Follow all the action live below:
MAGUIRE COULD BE FIT FOR EUROPA LEAGUE FINAL
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says both he and Harry Maguire are ‘postive’ that the Manchester United captain will be fit to lead his side out for the Europa League final in just over a weeks time.
Michael Jones18 May 2021 17:31
A BAD RUN
Fulham have earned a solitary point from their last eight league matches. They are winless in 16 Premier League fixtures against sides starting the day in the top two of the table since beating Manchester United 3-0 at Craven Cottage in December 2009 with two draws and 14 defeats since then.
Michael Jones18 May 2021 17:28
SOLSKJAER ON BUILDING MOMENTUM
Manchester United manager, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, says he wants his players to play as a team no matter who he picks in the starting XI and he hopes to build some momentum over the last two Premier League games to take into the Europa League final. He said:
Michael Jones18 May 2021 17:25
STRUGGLING AT HOME
Manchester United are looking to avoid three consecutive league defeats at Old Trafford for the first time since February 1979. The Red Devils have conceded 27 home goals in the Premier League in 2020/21, their most in a season since 1962/63.
Michael Jones18 May 2021 17:21
HEAD-TO-HEAD
Manchester United have won 18 of the last 22 top-flight meetings between the sides and are unbeaten in the last 12 games.
Fulham have avoided defeat just twice in their 14 Premier League games at Old Trafford: a 3-1 win in October 2003 and a 2-2 draw in February 2014.
Michael Jones18 May 2021 17:18
SCOTT PARKER ON FULHAM’S SEASON
Fulham boss, Scott Parker, reflects on a poor season for his side that has seen them relegated from the Premier League. He is disappointed but wants to end the season well saying:
Michael Jones18 May 2021 17:14
TEAM NEWS – CHANGES
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer makes three changes to the Manchester United XI as David de Gea replaces Dean Henderson in goal, with Mason Greenwood and Axel Tuanzebe also starting. Marcus Rashford and Eric Bailly drop to the bench.
Fulham make four changes to the starting XI that lost to Southampton last weekend. Kenny Tete and Joaquim Andersen are replaced in defence with Tim Ream and Joe Bryan whilst Mario Lemina and Ademola Lookman slot into the midfield.
Michael Jones18 May 2021 17:09
TEAM NEWS – MAN UTD VS FULHAM
Michael Jones18 May 2021 17:01
THE FANS ARE BACK
Up to 10,000 Manchester United fans are expected to be in attendance for Fulham’s visit to Old Trafford this evening after the UK Government moved to the next step of relaxing coronavirus restrictions.
Fan protests against the Glazer family’s ownership of the club have overshadowed recent United fixtures and in the wake of the recent Super League scandal a hostile welcome from the supporters is not out of the question.
Manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer said: “We’ve been waiting for a long, long time to welcome the fans back and of course the last couple of home games – especially the Liverpool ones, with the protests… it’s never nice to see a club that is not united, the fans and the team. So of course, we’re hoping that Tuesday is going to be a positive day, that we move together, that we play a good game of football, because that’s my job – to prepare the team, to play well and that they enjoy the day. That’s important now, that we get back and enjoy being together.”
Michael Jones18 May 2021 16:57
MAN UTD’S PLAYER OF THE SEASON
Bruno Fernandes picked up Manchester United’s player of the season award for the second consecutive year after supporters overwhelming voted for the Portuguese star:
Michael Jones18 May 2021 16:52