Manchester United's Crucial Clash at Craven Cottage: Injury Updates and Predicted XI

Manchester United head to Craven Cottage on Sunday carrying bruises and questions. Two defeats in four days – a humbling Manchester derby loss and an EFL Cup exit to Brighton & Hove Albion – have turned early-season anxiety into something sharper.

Michael Carrick’s side have taken just one win from their opening four Premier League games and sit 13th in the table. That is not the start the club expected. Not from this squad, and not under this manager. The response now has to come on the pitch.

Carrick is set to swing the axe on the team that crashed out of the cup. This will look far more like his first-choice XI, with several senior players returning and a clear attempt to reset the tone of the campaign.

Injuries bite, but key figures return

Carlos Baleba remains out with an ankle problem, joining longer-term absentees Manuel Ugarte (knee), Tom Heaton and Amad Diallo on the sidelines. Diallo has yet to play a minute this season after the ankle injury he picked up in pre-season.

There is at least one piece of encouraging news. Matthijs de Ligt is back in individual training as he continues his recovery from back surgery, though he is still not ready to rejoin full training or be considered for selection.

Luke Shaw, who missed the defeats to Brighton and Manchester City with a minor muscular issue, is in line to return at left-back. His comeback should push Noussair Mazraoui out of the starting XI, restoring some balance and familiarity to the back four.

Behind them, there is expected to be a reshuffle. Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez are set to come into central defence, with Senne Lammens replacing the rotated cup option in goal. Diogo Dalot is likely to keep his place at right-back, one of the few survivors from midweek.

Midfield shake-up and a new spearhead

In midfield, Kobbie Mainoo is poised to step in for Andrey Santos, offering more control and composure alongside Youri Tielemans. United’s engine room has looked disjointed in recent outings; Carrick needs Mainoo’s calm on the ball and positional discipline to steady it.

Further forward, the attacking puzzle is more ruthless. Marcus Rashford is at risk of dropping out of the XI after an indifferent start to the season. Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo are all in line to support Benjamin Sesko, who is pushing for his first Premier League start of the campaign.

Sesko’s inclusion would be a clear statement: United want a focal point, a striker to stretch defences and give their creative players something to work around. Craven Cottage is not always kind to drifting teams. United need someone to pin Fulham back.

Predicted Manchester United XI

Carrick is expected to line his team up in a 4-2-3-1:

Senne Lammens; Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw; Kobbie Mainoo, Youri Tielemans; Bryan Mbeumo, Bruno Fernandes, Matheus Cunha; Benjamin Sesko.

It is a side built to control the ball and carry a threat in transition, but also one that leaves little room for excuses if the performance falls flat again.

Kick-off and TV details

Fulham vs Manchester United kicks off at 16:30 on Sunday, 20 September 2026, in the Premier League. The match will be shown live in the UK on Sky Sports Main Event.

The table already makes uneasy reading for United. By Sunday evening, we will know if this was the week their season finally steadied – or the moment the pressure around Carrick deepened.