Manchester United v Fulham Live Commentary & Result, 28/5/23, Premier League

Pos	Team	P	W	D	L	F	A	+/-	PTS	Form
1	MCI Manchester City	38	28	5	5	94	33	+61	89	L D W W W
2	ARS Arsenal	38	26	6	6	88	43	+45	84	W L L W W
3	MUN Manchester United	38	23	6	9	58	43	+15	75	W W W W L
4	NEW Newcastle United	38	19	14	5	68	33	+35	71	D D W D L
5	LIV Liverpool	38	19	10	9	75	47	+28	67	D D W W W
6	BHA Brighton & Hove Albion	38	18	8	12	72	53	+19	62	L D W L W
7	AVL Aston Villa	38	18	7	13	51	46	+5	61	W D W L L
8	TOT Tottenham Hotspur	38	18	6	14	70	63	+7	60	W L L W L
9	BRE Brentford	38	15	14	9	58	46	+12	59	W W W L W
10	FUL Fulham	38	15	7	16	55	53	+2	52	L D W W L
11	CRY Crystal Palace	38	11	12	15	40	49	-9	45	D D W L W
12	CHE Chelsea	38	11	11	16	38	47	-9	44	D L L D W
13	WOL Wolverhampton Wanderers	38	11	8	19	31	58	-27	41	L D L W L
14	WHU West Ham United	38	11	7	20	42	55	-13	40	L W L W L
15	BOU AFC Bournemouth	38	11	6	21	37	71	-34	39	L L L L W
16	NFO Nottingham Forest	38	9	11	18	38	68	-30	38	D W D W L
17	EVE Everton	38	8	12	18	34	57	-23	36	W D L W D
18	LEI Leicester City	38	9	7	22	51	68	-17	34	W D L L D
19	LEE Leeds United	38	7	10	21	48	78	-30	31	L L D L L
20	SOU Southampton	38	6	7	25	36	73	-37	25	D L L L L

That's all for today, goodbye.

United finish the season in third place in the Premier League. They have already won the EFL Cup under new manager Erik ten Hag, but have the chance to lift the FA Cup when they face Manchester City in the final in just under one week. As for Fulham, their season is now over. However, they will be happy with their first top half finish in the League since 2011-12 (ninth), while their 55 goals this season is the most they've ever scored in a single campaign in the competition. They’ve also won 15 games this term, their second-most ever in a top-flight season after 1959-60 (17).

United secured third spot in the Premier League with a narrow victory over Fulham. The away side broke the deadlock when Tete got on the end of Willian's corner, powering a header past De Gea. The Cottagers were in control after scoring and had the chance to double their advantage when Casemiro tripped Cairney in the box. Mitrovic took the following penalty, but his low shot was saved. United wrested back the momentum and found a fortunate equaliser through Sancho. Fred was tackled by Tete in the box, with the ball rolling across to the winger for a simple finish from close range. Rashford then poked a shot wide before Fernandes struck the winner. Fred's disguised throughball found the Portugal international, who raced behind the Fulham defence before chipping his shot over Leno. Silva's side pushed for an equaliser and went close through Cairney, but his strike was blocked by McTominay. Weghorst then had the chance to end his loan spell at United with a goal. He got on the end of a cross from Sancho but poked his effort wide.

90' + 4' FULL-TIME: MANCHESTER UNITED 2-1 FULHAM

90' + 2' Solomon has scored a couple of excellent goals this season but fails to hit the target from outside the box, sending his right-footed shot wide of the post.

90' + 1' Pellistri does brilliantly to break through the heart of the pitch before playing a pass down the left to Martial. The forward then slides the ball to Sancho, who shifts onto his right foot and curls a cross to Weghorst. The striker is there but sends his effort wide.

89' Fulham have lost their final league game in four of the last five seasons (drawing one), going down 4-0 at Sheffield United in the Championship last season.

S. McTominay

Yellow Card

87' McTominay is shown a yellow card for a poor tackle on Vinicius.

86' SAVE! De Gea makes another good stop. Solomon has possession just outside the box and powers a low effort towards the bottom corner. However, De Gea is equal to it and pushes his shot away from danger.

F. Pellistri

Bruno Fernandes

84' Fernandes is given a brilliant reception from the home fans as he comes off the pitch. He might have scored the decisive goal in this game. Pellistri is given the final six minutes to make an impression.

82' Willian has possession just outside United's box and threads a pass to Vinicius. The striker has the ball on his right foot before cutting inside, bending a shot towards the bottom corner. De Gea gets down to palm it away before the offside flag goes up.

D. James

T. Cairney

80' James is given a mixed response at Old Trafford, with the winger coming on against his old side. Cairney comes off.

Carlos Vinícius

A. Mitrović

80' Silva takes Mitrovic off moments after the Serbian striker was shown a yellow card. Vinicius now leads the Fulham attack.

A. Mitrović

Yellow Card

79' Willian has possession on the left before cutting inside to swing a cross into the heart of United's box. Lindelof heads it towards the back post and Mitrovic wrestles Malacia to the floor trying to get on the end of it. He is shown a yellow card.

W. Weghorst

M. Rashford

77' Weghorst is on for what could be his final appearance for United. The Burnley loanee replaces Rashford.

75' Rashford breaks through the middle of the pitch before sending a pass down the left side of the box to Martial. The striker has a chance to shoot but looks to return the ball back to the striker, but his pass is intercepted.

73' SAVE! Rashford runs down the left side of the box to get on the end of a pass from Fernandes before having a shot blocked. The rebound falls back to him, but Leno pushes away his second attempt.

71' Fulham have only won three of their 53 Premier League away games against sides in the top four of the table, drawing 12 and losing 38. Those wins came at United (3-1 in October 2003), Tottenham Hotspur (1-0 in March 2013) and Leicester City (2-1 in November 2020).

69' WIDE! Fulham miss a huge opportunity to score a second goal. Reed plays a pass back to Tete on the right, who rushes towards the ball before curling a cross onto the head of Mitrovic inside the box. He knocks it down to Cairney, but his effort from close range is blocked by McTominay.

C. Eriksen

Fred

67' Fred has been outstanding in United's midfield and is now on his way off. Eriksen is on.

S. McTominay

Casemiro

67' United have changed both of their midfielders, with Casimiro given a rest. McTominay is on.

A. Martial

A. Garnacho

67' Garnacho was energetic on the left wing but has been unable to make an impact since the restart. Martial takes his place in the attack.

H. Reed

S. Lukić

66' Marco Silva has decided to bring on Reed. Lukic started ahead of the former Southampton man but is now off the pitch.

M. Solomon

H. Wilson

66' Wilson's free-kick was his last touch of the season. He is replaced on the wing by Solomon.

65' Fred pulls the arm of Cairney and gives away a free-kick just outside the box. Plenty of Fulham players are over the ball but it is Wilson and Willian that are the most likely to take it. Wilson then curls a left-footed effort over the bar.

64' Fred has been brilliant today. He looks for another smart pass, this time searching for Rashford down the right side of the box, but the ball races off the pitch. Fernandes claps his effort.

62' Fernandes' outswinging corner is headed away by Palhinha, with United able to recycle possession. it eventually goes out to Dalot on the left, but his cross is blocked by Adarabioyo.

60' Fernandes looks to score his second of the game after Casemiro directs a pass towards him, but his shot from outside the box goes straight at Leno.

58' Fulham respond with a chance. Mitrovic gets on the end of a corner and heads the ball just wide, with Fernandes letting it go over his head and out for a goal-kick. That was their first shot in over 30 minutes.

Fred

Assist

55' That could be one of the best assists of the season from Fred. He has a number of bodies ahead of him but finds the space to thread a perfect pass into the path of Fernandes, who beats Leno with a smart effort.

Bruno Fernandes

Goal

55' GOALLLL! FERNANDES SCORES! 2-1 UNITED! What a wonderful goal from United. Fred has the ball in the middle of the Fulham half and slides a disguised throughball into the path of Fernandes. He rushes towards the box and chips his shot over Leno and into the net.

53' United have only lost their final Premier League game in one of their nine campaigns in which they've contested the FA Cup final that season (winning six, drawing two), going down 1-0 at home to West Ham in 2006-07.

João Palhinha

Yellow Card

51' Palhinha races down the right side of the pitch and is tackled by Malacia before rolling around on the floor. Unhappy that he is not given a free-kick, he dives in on the left-back and is shown a yellow card.

49' United look to build an attack outside the Fulham box with some quick passes, but Casemiro puts the ball too far ahead of Fernandes and the away side have possession back.

47' WIDE! United should have the lead. Casemiro sends a deep pass through the middle of the Fulham defence towards Rashford, who races between Diop and Adarabioyo. The centre-backs leave it for each other, allowing Rashford to get on the end of the pass before poking his shot wide.

46' The home side get the ball rolling again. Fernandes plays a pass back to Casemiro.

United have been the much better side since De Gea saved Mitrovic's penalty and must look to keep putting the pressure on. Garnacho and Sancho have done well to stretch the pitch, with Fernandes linking the attack. As for Fulham, they need to forget about missing the opportunity to go two goals ahead. They were playing much better than United and had the lead before the penalty. They kept possession well and were utilising the quality of Willian on the left.

Mitrovic had a penalty saved with Fulham in the lead before Sancho levelled the score in a fast-paced first 45 minutes. The Serbian striker had the first chance of the game, heading over from close range before the Cottagers broke the deadlock. Willian's inswinging corner found Tete, who got away from his marker before powering a header past De Gea. Mitrovic then had an opportunity to double Fulham's lead from the penalty spot after Cairney was fouled by Casemiro, but his low strike towards the bottom corner was pushed behind. Garnacho had a shot saved and hit the bar before United found an equaliser. Fred raced into the box and was tackled by Tete, but the ball rolled across to Sancho for a simple finish.

45' + 2' HALF-TIME: MANCHESTER UNITED 1-1 FULHAM

45' + 1' There will be two minutes of additional time.

45' United are having a lot of shots from distance today. Fernandes slides a pass across to Dalot outside the box, with the right-back unleashing a swerving effort. However, Leno makes a simple save.

44' Sancho plays a short corner to Fernandes on the right flank. The Portugal international then whips a cross into the box looking for Maguire, but the defender heads his effort well over.

43' Fred and Fernandes have had plenty of the ball in the first half. This time the pair combine outside the box with the latter then looking to chip a pass into a dangerous area, but Leno rushes out to claim.

41' After losing back-to-back Premier League games against Fulham in March/December 2009, United are unbeaten in their last 14 against the Cottagers (winning 11, drawing three). They have been the better since Mitrovic's penalty was saved.

J. Sancho

Goal

39' GOALLL! SANCHO SCORES! 1-1! It is not the best-looking goal but the home side will not care! Fernandes spins past Lukic before playing a throughball into the path of Fred inside the box. He races down the left and is tackled by Tete, but the ball rolls across to Sancho for an easy goal.

38' Garnacho has been full of energy in the United attack. This time he receives a pass from Fred outside the box before lashing an effort straight at Leno.

36' United win possession in Fulham's half and try to spring a quick attack. Fernandes has it and looks to send a throughball to Rashford, but he puts too much pace on it. Tete gets across before being fouled by Rashford on the byline.

34' Fulham have lost 18 of their last 21 away league games against United, with their only win in that time coming in October 2003 under Chris Coleman (3-1). However, the Cottagers have come away with a draw in two of their last three Premier League visits to Old Trafford.

32' Fernandes gets on the end of a switch from Sancho and loops a cross from left to right to Casemiro. He tries to crash a shot past Leno from a tight angle, but the goalkeeper stops his attempt.

30' United are putting on all of their pressure at the moment. This time Rashford has a shot from inside the box blocked. Garnacho crashed the bar moments before with a shot from the left side of the area.

28' Fernandes has possession in the box after quick play from United down the right side of the pitch. He feeds a pass across to Garnacho, who ignores Rashford on his left and curls a shot just wide.

27' WIDE! United almost find an equaliser. Fred has the ball just past the halfway line and sends a pass into the feet of Rashford. The striker drives forward with possession before drilling a low shot just past the post from outside the box.

David de Gea

Penalty Save

26' De Gea shows his importance to United once again. He gets down to his left and stops Mitrovic's penalty. That could be a huge moment in the game and United's push for third place in the Premier League.

A. Mitrović

Penalty Miss

26' SAVE! What a stop from De Gea. Mitrovic looks to curl a low penalty into the bottom right corner, but the goalkeeper dives the correct way and pushes his effort behind for a corner.

25' PENALTY TO FULHAM! Cairney enters the box and taps the ball to his right. Casemiro tries to win possession but misses the ball completely and takes out his leg.

23' Fulham have been happy to keep the ball since scoring, with United happy to let them have possession around their own box.

21' United have failed to win in their last five matches when conceding the opening goal in the Premier League dating back to 14th January 2023 against Manchester City.

Willian

Assist

19' Willian has been one of Fulham's most creative players this season and gets his sixth assist of the campaign. His inswinging corner is perfect and finds the head of Tete, who has a simple finish.

K. Tete

Goal

19' GOALLLL! TETE SCORES! 1-0 FULHAM! United are in fourth place as things stand. It is a simple goal for Fulham, with Tete getting away from his marker to get on the end of Willian's inswinging corner and power a header past De Gea.

18' Willian has possession on the left and plays a short pass into Wilson. He then curls the ball with the outside of his foot towards the winger, who races into the box, but Maguire is there to head it behind.

16' Garnacho gets down the left and is fouled by Tete next to the byline. Fernandes takes the following free-kick, with Diop jumping the highest to head the ball away.

14' Casemiro has possession in the middle of the pitch and has simple options ahead of him, but drills a throughball down the left channel that goes straight off the pitch and out for a goal-kick. He then puts his head in his hands.

13' Rashford gives away possession in the Fulham half, allowing the away team to come away with possession. Cairney and Willian rush away down the left and play quick passes between themselves before Fred gets across to tackle the Fulham captain.

11' Rashford powers a free-kick from range towards the Fulham goal. It is curling just away from the top corner and under the bar, with Leno there to push it over.

9' Fernandes looks for a long pass over the top of the Fulham defence to Rashford, who races beyond them and into the final third. However, Robinson reads his attempt and gets his head onto it to intercept.

7' OVER! Lindelof fouls Mitrovic outside the box and gives away a free-kick in a crossing position. Willian and Cairney play a quick one-two before the former Chelsea man chips a cross into the middle of the box. Diop escapes his marker and knocks the ball across to Mitrovic, who heads his effort over.

5' Fulham have had a lot of the ball in the opening exchanges of the game but have not been able to do anything with it. They are finding it difficult to break into United's defensive third. When they do, it is on either side of the box and not inside it.

3' CHANCE! The first opportunity of the game goes to United. Fernandes has possession on the left and switches it to the right towards Dalot. He races towards the byline to keep the ball on the pitch and pulls it across, but Leno is there to push it away.

1' Fulham get this Premier League game under way. Mitrovic with the first pass.

United have won all five of their Premier League games against promoted sides this season, last winning all six in a single campaign back in 2011-12.

Fulham make just one alteration to the side that drew with Crystal Palace. Reed has started 35 games this season but takes a rare spot on the bench for the final fixture. Lukic takes his place alongside Palhinha. James returns to the squad after recovering from injury and could come on against his old team.

United make six changes to the team that beat Chelsea in their previous match, their most from one game to another this season. Lindelof is the only player to keep his place in the defence, with Shaw, Varane and Wan-Bissaka on the bench. Maguire makes his first start since the Red Devils’ 2-0 win over Nottingham Forest in April, with Dalot and Malacia filling the full-back positions. Fred comes in for Eriksen in the midfield. Antony misses out through injury and is replaced on the wing by Garnacho and Rashford leads the line instead of Martial.

FULHAM SUBS: Marek Rodak, Harrison Reed, Neeskens Kebano, Manor Solomon, Cedric Soares, Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Dan James, Carlos Vinicius, Matthew Dibley-Dias.

FULHAM (4-2-3-1): Bernd Leno; Kenny Tete, Tosin Adarabioyo, Issa Diop, Antonee Robinson; Sasa Lukic, Joao Palhinha; Harry Wilson, Tom Cairney, Willian; Aleksandar Mitrovic.

MANCHESTER UNITED SUBS: Jack Butland, Anthony Martial, Christian Eriksen, Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw, Wout Weghorst, Facundo Pellistri, Aaron Wan-Bissaka, Scott McTominay.

MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): David de Gea; Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelof, Tyrell Malacia; Casemiro, Fred; Alejandro Garnacho, Bruno Fernandes, Jadon Sancho; Marcus Rashford.

Fulham were one of the early favourites to get relegated from the Premier League after gaining promotion from the Championship last season. However, they have defied early expectations and will finish the season in the top half of the table no matter what happens today. The Cottagers are in 10th position and cannot move higher or lower due to their points tally. Fulham have already lost twice against United this season, with their previous defeat coming in the FA Cup at Old Trafford. In the league, they have won seven, drawn two and lost nine of their 18 games this campaign.

United confirmed their place in next season’s Champions League with a 4-1 win over Chelsea in their previous match. It was their third successive victory in the league after triumphs against Wolves and Bournemouth, keeping them in control of their destiny after back-to-back losses to Brighton and Hove Albion and West Ham. They are four points ahead of fifth-placed Liverpool going into the final game and cannot by the Reds, but have to win to solidify their place behind Manchester City and Arsenal. Erik ten Hag’s men are just two points in front of Newcastle United with a significantly inferior goal difference, meaning they will slip down to fourth place if they fail to win and the Magpies beat Chelsea.

Hello and welcome to the live commentary for the Premier League clash between Manchester United and Fulham.

Manchester United v Fulham Live Commentary, 28/5/23

Key Events

Match Stats

Key

Commentary