Preview: Manchester United vs. Fulham - prediction, team news, lineups

Manchester United will be looking to return to winning ways in the Premier League when they welcome already-relegated Fulham to Old Trafford on Tuesday night.

The Red Devils, who will be attempting to secure second spot in the table, have suffered defeats in their last two league matches to Leicester City and Liverpool, while Fulham are on a three-game losing run in England's top flight and will be relegated back to the Championship for the 2021-22 campaign.

Match preview

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Man United have undoubtedly made huge steps forward under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer this season, with the Red Devils on course for a runners-up spot in the Premier League, while they will have the chance to lift major silverware later this month, with Villarreal their opponents in the Europa League final.

The 20-time English champions are four points clear of third-placed Leicester in the table and know that a win on Tuesday evening would make sure of second spot behind Manchester City.

Solskjaer's side will enter this match off the back of successive defeats, though, having lost 2-1 to Leicester and 4-2 to Liverpool in their last two league fixtures, both of which came at Old Trafford.

Man United will finish their domestic campaign away to Wolverhampton Wanderers on Sunday and will then face Spanish outfit Villarreal in the Europa League final on May 26.

The Red Devils have been excellent on their travels in the Premier League this season, remaining unbeaten across 18 matches, but they have suffered six league defeats at Old Trafford and will hope that the return of 10,000 supporters to the stadium will hand them a boost.

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Fulham's Premier League record this season makes for grim reading for their supporters, with just five victories arriving from 36 matches, and they have been comfortably relegated back to the Championship.

There was a period earlier this year where the Cottagers were threatening to pull themselves out of trouble, but they are now without a victory since the famous 1-0 success away to Liverpool on March 7.

Just one point has arrived from their last eight league matches, and they will enter this game off the back of three straight losses to Chelsea, Burnley and Southampton.

Scott Parker appears to be committed to the club, and the Englishman will seemingly be given the opportunity to lead the capital outfit back to the Premier League at the first time of asking.

Work is already underway behind the scenes as a number of players will be moving on this summer, but 18th-placed Fulham will still want to give their fans something to cheer in their final two matches of the season at Old Trafford and at home to Newcastle United on Sunday.

Team News

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Man United will again be without the services of Harry Maguire, Anthony Martial and Phil Jones through injury, while Daniel James is expected to remain on the sidelines for the Red Devils.

Solskjaer is likely to rest a number of players against Wolves at the weekend, meaning that it could be a relatively strong starting XI on Tuesday as the club build towards the Europa League final.

Axel Tuanzebe could potentially come in for a start at the back, while Paul Pogba may drop into a midfield two alongside Scott McTominay, allowing Marcus Rashford to play off the left.

Edinson Cavani and Mason Greenwood should also both be in the home side's XI, with Solskjaer keen to sign off at Old Trafford with a positive performance and result.

As for Fulham, Tom Cairney and Terence Kongolo remain unavailable for selection through injury, but Mario Lemina should return to the squad, having been ineligible to face parent club Southampton on Saturday.

Parker could revert to a back four for this match, but there should be another start for 18-year-old Fabio Carvalho, who was on the scoresheet against Southampton.

Ivan Cavaleiro played through the middle on Saturday, but there may be a spot in the XI for Aleksandar Mitrovic, who has only managed three Premier League goals this season but could be a big player for the club in the Championship next term, should he stay at Craven Cottage.

Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Henderson; Wan-Bissaka, Lindelof, Tuanzebe, Shaw; McTominay, Pogba; Rashford, Fernandes, Greenwood; Cavani

Fulham possible starting lineup:
Areola; Tete, Andersen, Adarabioyo, Aina; Lemina, Reed; Lookman, Reid, Carvalho; Mitrovic

We say: Manchester United 2-0 Fulham

There is not an awful lot riding on this match for either side, but Man United will be determined to tie up second spot in the table. Fulham are certainly capable of causing the Red Devils problems, but we are finding it difficult to predict anything other than a routine victory for Solskjaer's team.

Video prediction

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