Venue: Craven Cottage Date: Saturday, 2nd February K/o: 17:30
Team News
Fulham will be without former Manchester United star Dimitar Berbatov, who misses this game with a hamstring injury. Martin Jol could hand a debut to AC Milan loanee Urby Emanuelson, but Steve Sidwell, Mahamadou Diarra, Kerim Frei and Kieran Richardson are all out. Manchester United could recall defender Rio Ferdinand while Jonny Evans has recovered from his hamstring injury. Sir Alex Ferguson has no fresh injury concerns but winger Ashley Young remains sidelined.
Match Preview
Manchester United could stretch their lead at the top of the Premier League table to a huge 10 points with victory over Fulham this weekend. Nearest rivals Manchester City aren't in action until Sunday against Liverpool and how Ferguson will be hoping his bitter rivals on Merseyside can hand him a huge favour that day. United faced Fulham last weekend and hammered them 4-1 in the FA Cup. A repeat performance here would open up a yawning gap at the top of the Premier League. Fulham have only beaten Manchester United three times in 23 Premier League meetings and Martin Jol's side will have a stern task ahead of them if they are to upset the apple cart here. Their 3-1 win over West Ham at the end of January was only their second league win of the month and they have not kept a clean sheet in any of their last 10 league matches. Ferguson will be glad of the absence of Dimitar Berbatov, ruling out the possibility of one of his old boys coming back to derail his title charge.
Likely Line-Ups
Fulham Schwarzer, Riether, Riise, Hughes, Hangeland, Duff, Kacaniklic, Karagounis, Dejagah, Ruiz, Rodallega
Man Utd De Gea, Evra, Ferdinand, Jones, Rafael, Valencia, Carrick, Cleverley, Giggs, van Persie, Rooney Source:
BBC