Manchester United vs Fulham Predictions

• Manchester United have won three of their last five home league games, all with over 2.5 goals
• Fulham have lost five of their last six away league fixtures with at least three goals in four of the defeats
• Rasmus Hojlund has scored in seven of his last eight appearances, including a double against Luton last weekend

Red Devils should roll on against Fulham

Manchester United’s momentum is such that it could take some effort from Fulham to knock them out of their winning habit at Old Trafford this weekend.

Erik ten Hag’s side are not always convincing, but they have racked up five wins in a row in all competitions to restate their case to be in the Champions League again.

The Red Devils’ win at Luton last Sunday was typical fare from them as they looked irresistible for 15 minutes before the Hatters struck to turn the game on its head. United play in moments and cannot yet control matches, which makes things very fraught when they are defending leads.

Palhinha suspension tips the balance

Fulham have found things very difficult away from Craven Cottage this season without a real focal point to their attack. They had the sixth-best away record in the Premier League last term with Aleksandar Mitrovic up top, but only Sheffield United have currently taken fewer points than them on the road.

Rodrigo Muniz has stepped into the side with some success lately, but midfielder Joao Palhinha is Fulham’s top scorer away from home this term with three goals and he will miss this match through suspension.

Palhinha’s absence tips the balance of this game firmly in favour of the hosts, who have improved in midfield of late due to the presence of Kobbie Mainoo. However, they can still be vulnerable in that area due to occasional indiscipline from senior players and it seems unlikely that whichever combination Ten Hag uses will be able to fully control the game.

Hold your nerve on Hojlund bets

Fulham could easily pinch one on a counter attack or from a set piece against this United side, who have kept only one clean sheet in their last eight league games.

But United possess an in-form striker who almost guarantees a goal at the moment – Rasmus Hojlund. The Dane has demonstrated his finishing prowess in so many different ways since breaking his Premier League duck on Boxing Day that it seems foolish to look to anyone else for an anytime goalscorer bet.

His odds are decreasing by the week and he will not maintain a ridiculous 64% chance conversion rate for ever, but while his team are scoring multiple goals most weeks he remains a worthwhile wager.