The FA Cup fifth round continues today with two exciting fixtures. The day’s action kicks off with Newcastle United facing Brighton & Hove Albion before Manchester United takes on Fulham at Old Trafford in the final game of the round.
Road to the Fifth Round
Manchester United secured their place in this stage of the competition after hard-fought victories over Arsenal and Leicester City. Despite some underwhelming performances in domestic competitions, Ruben Amorim’s side will look to build on their recent two-game unbeaten run as they aim for a deeper FA Cup run.
Meanwhile, Fulham booked their fifth-round spot with wins over Watford and Wigan Athletic. Marco Silva’s men have been inconsistent in the Premier League but come into this clash with momentum following a victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Both teams have met twice already in the 2024/25 season, with United winning both games by a narrow 1-0 margin. However, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake, this promises to be a different challenge.
Team News & Tactical Setups
Manchester United
Ruben Amorim faces a selection headache, with as many as ten first-team players potentially unavailable. The latest setback is Patrick Dorgu’s suspension following his red card against Ipswich Town. Additionally, Alejandro Garnacho is a fitness doubt but is expected to feature.
Other absentees include Altay Bayindir (unspecified), Jonny Evans (lower back), Lisandro Martinez (knee), Luke Shaw (calf), Kobbie Mainoo (muscle), Toby Collyer (knock), Mason Mount (thigh), and Amad Diallo (ankle).
Amorim is likely to set up in a 3-4-2-1 formation, with Andre Onana in goal. The back three could feature Leny Yoro, Harry Maguire, and Matthijs de Ligt, while Diogo Dalot and Noussair Mazraoui operate as wing-backs. The midfield duo of Manuel Ugarte and Casemiro will look to control the tempo, with Bruno Fernandes and Garnacho supporting Joshua Zirkzee in attack.
Probable Lineup (3-4-2-1): Onana; Yoro, Maguire, de Ligt; Mazraoui, Ugarte, Casemiro, Dalot; Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes; Zirkzee.
Fulham
Marco Silva has fewer injury concerns but could still be without four key players. Emile Smith Rowe faces a late fitness test, while Kenny Tete (knee), Harry Wilson (foot), and Reiss Nelson (hamstring) are set to miss out.
Fulham are expected to stick with their familiar 4-2-3-1 setup. Bernd Leno will start in goal, with Timothy Castagne, Joachim Andersen, Calvin Bassey, and Antonee Robinson forming the defensive line. Sander Berge and Sasa Lukic will protect the backline, while Andreas Pereira takes up the playmaker role, flanked by Adama Traore and Alex Iwobi. Rodrigo Muniz is expected to lead the attack.
Probable Lineup (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Lukic; Traore, Pereira, Iwobi; Muniz.
Key Stats
- Manchester United have won their last nine FA Cup encounters against Fulham, with the last defeat coming in the 1908 quarter-finals.
- The Red Devils have dominated Fulham in recent years, losing only once in their last 21 meetings (W17 D3).
- Fulham have never eliminated a defending FA Cup champion in their three previous attempts.
- United have progressed from the fifth round in each of the last 14 occasions since their 2005/06 defeat to Liverpool.
- Fulham aim to reach the quarter-finals for the second time in three seasons, having beaten Leeds United in this stage two years ago.
Player to Watch: Bruno Fernandes
Despite recent criticism from pundits like Roy Keane, Bruno Fernandes remains Manchester United’s main creative force. The Portuguese midfielder has been directly involved in United’s last six goals and played a crucial role in their win over Ipswich Town.
Fernandes also boasts an impressive FA Cup record, contributing 11 goal involvements (7 goals, 4 assists) in his last 11 appearances in the competition. With United facing injuries and selection issues, his influence could be the difference-maker against Fulham.
Manchester United vs Fulham Prediction
With home advantage and a strong head-to-head record, Manchester United will be slight favorites, but Fulham have shown resilience in the cup this season. Expect a closely contested battle with the Red Devils edging it once again.
Manchester United 2-1 Fulham
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