Manchester United appears to have hit their peak form of the season, edging closer to the top-four spot under the helm of manager Erik ten Hag. Despite their recent success, Ten Hag’s frustration is palpable on the touchline. In their latest match against Luton, the Red Devils secured a two-goal lead but squandered multiple opportunities to widen the gap, narrowly escaping a late equalizer.

Nonetheless, the atmosphere around Old Trafford is electric, fueled by four consecutive league victories and the completion of Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s acquisition of a significant stake in the club.

With just five points separating them from fourth place, United aims to further narrow the gap as they face Fulham, a team they’ve dominated in their last 18 encounters, boasting 15 wins and 3 draws, including four consecutive victories under Ten Hag.

Fulham, on the other hand, hasn’t triumphed at Old Trafford since October 2003, with a dismal record of 2 draws and 14 losses. Despite holding a comfortable mid-table position, Fulham’s recent form raises doubts about their ability to upset United, having secured only one win in their last eight matches across all competitions.

Adding to Fulham’s woes is their woeful away form in the 2023/24 season, accumulating a mere seven points on the road, second only to Sheffield United. Silva’s side has endured an 11-game winless streak away from home since their victory over Everton in August, managing only 4 draws and suffering 7 defeats.

Key players to watch include United’s Rasmus Højlund, who has made headlines as the youngest player to score in six consecutive Premier League matches, with the majority of his 13 goals coming in the first half. Fulham’s Rodrigo Muniz poses a threat upfront, having netted four times in his last three games.

A noteworthy statistic is Fulham’s struggle to score, failing to find the back of the net in ten matches this season. In summary, Manchester United enters the match with confidence, while Fulham faces an uphill battle to secure a positive result at Old Trafford.