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How Manchester United should line up in Premier League fixture vs Fulham

A two-image graphic featuring a picture of Ruben Amorim on the left and a screenshot of a Manchester United XI on the right.
-Credit:Reach Publishing Services Limited


Manchester United will be targeting a second successive victory when they travel to Craven Cottage to face Fulham on Sunday evening.

United got back to winning ways on Thursday evening with a dramatic 2-1 Europa League triumph over Rangers at Old Trafford. Bruno Fernandes netted a 92nd-minute winner to wipe out the equaliser Cyriel Dessers had scored just four minutes earlier.

The challenge for United is to try and now build on that victory and try and secure their first Premier League away win since beating Manchester City on December 15. They have only won three of their first 11 league matches under head coach Ruben Amorim.

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Regarding the team news, Amorim is expected to pick from the same pool of players that were involved against Rangers, meaning the likes of Luke Shaw and Mason Mount will miss out once again.

Below, our United writers have had their say on how they would like to see Amorim set his team up.

Samuel Luckhurst

Amorim hinted that Andre Onana will return but Altay Bayindir deserves a maiden Premier League start. The penalty save from Martin Odegaard has semi-transformed him and he played well against Rangers.

With Matthijs de Ligt a possible doubt, the back three picks itself with Harry Maguire back in. Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo are needed in midfield while Amad and Alejandro Garnacho have to be accommodated in the absence of a goalscorer up top.

Joshua Zirkzee is still without a goal but he is a better footballer than Rasmus Hojlund.

Tyrone Marshall

The battle for the gloves at United is starting to heat up. I would stick with Onana for now, but Bayindir was solid against Rangers and he is waiting in the wings. Onana needs to cut out the errors.

Maguire and Lisandro Martinez must both start in defence, but injuries will condition the third member of the back three. I would go with De Ligt if he fit, having been withdrawn at half-time on Thursday. I would also stick with Amad at wing-back, partly because of the options at No. 10.

It seems pretty clear Mainoo and Ugarte will come back in and that's the right call. Garnacho deserves another start, with Bruno Fernandes pushing forward, and Hojlund is back to try his luck in front of goal.

George Smith

Amorim cited rotation as the reason behind his surprise decision to select Bayindir in goal ahead of Onana against Rangers, meaning the latter should come back into the team on the banks of the Thames.

Provided he is fit enough to start after being taken off in the second half on Thursday night, De Ligt should keep his place in defence and be partnered by Maguire, who stepped off the bench to replace him at half-time, and Martinez.

Toby Collyer impressed in midfield in midweek but United should not risk pushing him too hard too soon. Mainoo and Ugarte were both given a rest from the start and should come back into the team.

Garnacho was worthy of his starting place against the Gers and should keep his place in one of the two No.10 positions. Zirkzee has started the last two games and deserves another crack at attempting to end his goal drought.

A Manchester United starting XI displayed on a football pitch graphic with Craven Cottage in the background. The XI is as follows:

GK: Onana
CB: De Ligt
CB: Maguire
CB: Martinez
RWB: Amad
CM: Ugarte
CM: Mainoo
LWB: Dalot
CAM: Garnacho
CAM: Fernandes
ST: Zirkzee
Ruben Amorim has some big decisions to make.