On the penultimate matchday of the 2022–23 season, Manchester United will host Fulham to Old Trafford with the goal of clinching third place in the Premier League standings.
The Red Devils defeated Chelsea 4-1 on Thursday night to clinch their place in the Champions League for the upcoming season. Fulham, who are now in 10th place in the division, came into the game off a 2-2 tie with London rivals Crystal Palace the previous weekend.
The top-four position in the Premier League standings, which was Erik ten Hag’s primary objective for the 2022–23 season, is already certainly heading into the last matchday after the Red Devils defeated Chelsea 4–1 at Old Trafford on Thursday.
Man United needed three points to finish in third place, two points clear of fourth-place Newcastle United, who will complete their season away to Chelsea. Had they not earned all three, they would not have qualified for the Champions League.
The 20-time English champions, who had won the EFL Cup at the end of February to break a six-year trophy drought, will face Manchester City in the FA Cup final the following weekend in an attempt to capture the domestic double and dash the triple ambitions of the Citizens.
Man United have brilliantly bounced back from consecutive losses to Brighton & Hove Albion and West Ham United by defeating Wolverhampton Wanderers, Bournemouth, and Chelsea in their past three matches, and their home form has been a key factor in their success this season.
This season, the Red Devils have won 18 league games at Old Trafford and amassed 45 points while giving up only nine goals, easily the greatest home defensive record in the league.
The Cottagers secured back-to-back seasons in the top tier for the first time since 2014, and they did so with ease. A standout campaign saw them accumulate 52 points from 37 games to occupy the 10th spot in the standings.
Regardless of what occurs on the season’s last weekend, Marco Silva’s squad will finish in 10th place. This will be the team’s first top-half result in England’s premier division since placing ninth in 2011–12.
With seven points from their past three games, including a 2-2 draw against Palace the last time out, Fulham will approach Sunday’s game in fantastic form. In their most recent away contest on May 13, Silva’s club defeated Southampton 2-0. This season, they have performed well away from home, collecting 23 points from 18 games, only four fewer than Man United did in 2022–23.
With Tottenham Hotspur and West Ham United rumoured to be interested in Fulham’s head coach, the Premier League team will be eager to build on its success next season.
Team News- Manchester United
On Thursday night, Man United acquired two new injury worries as Antony was carried off the field during the first half of the game with what seemed to be an ankle injury.
The Brazilian’s health has not changed, but it is extremely doubtful that he will be able to play in this game. Luke Shaw, meantime, suffered a back injury during the first half of the game against Chelsea and is not anticipated to be risked ahead of the FA Cup final.
Tom Heaton is still a serious concern owing to an ankle injury, while the Red Devils will also be without Lisandro Martinez, Donny van de Beek, and Marcel Sabitzer. Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Tyrell Malacia, and Scott McTominay are all expected to start for Ten Hag on Thursday, and Rashford, who came off the bench as Antony’s replacement against Chelsea after returning from an illness and injury, is anticipated to make his return in the final third of the field.
Team News- Fulham
Andreas Pereira, Tim Ream, and Layvin Kurzawa are still out of commission for Fulham, but Daniel James might make a comeback against his old team. Aleksandar Mitrovic would likely start at the front of the queue for head coach Silva’s favoured lineup versus Palace last time out.
Mitrovic had an eight-game suspension after getting sent off versus Man United in the FA Cup at Old Trafford in April for pushing referee Chris Kavanagh, but the striker has had a productive season, scoring 15 goals across all competitions.
For the visitors, Willian and Harry Wilson should stay in the wide areas, whereas Carlos Vinicius and Manor Solomon are also hoping to play some part in the match in Manchester.
Prediction-
Manchester United 2-0 Fulham
