Fulham are still waiting for their first win
One point from four games. That is Fulham’s entire Premier League return this season, and it leaves the Cottagers 18th ahead of Sunday’s visit from Manchester United to Craven Cottage.
It has been a grim start. A defeat to Chelsea on opening day, then losses to Sunderland and Crystal Palace. Their only point came last week in a hard-fought 0-0 at Anfield. It is the club’s worst opening to a season since 2020-21, when Fulham lost their first six league games.
There is still a sliver of hope for Arbeloa, though. On Wednesday, his side went to West Ham and won 3-2 in the League Cup. Ryan Sessegnon should also return after recovering from a hip injury.
The problem is up front. Fulham have now failed to score in 10 Premier League matches in 2026, more than any other club. That is 42% of their games, their worst scoring rate in a calendar year since 2010.
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84 shots, four points: United’s maths do not add up
Manchester United are hardly in better shape. Four points from four matches: one win, one draw, two defeats. The club have never started this badly at this stage, apart from 1992-93 and 2025-26. Those two seasons finished with a title and a third-place finish, respectively.
Last weekend’s derby left a mark. City were down to 10 men after a first-half red card, yet the Red Devils still lost 1-0 to a controversial Erling Haaland goal. Then came another setback on Wednesday: a 3-2 defeat to Brighton in the League Cup after leading 2-0 inside 10 minutes. United had not lost at home after leading at the break since May 1984.
The underlying numbers tell a different story. United have had 84 shots, more than anyone else in the league, and their best total at this stage since 2003-04. That has translated into 8.3 expected goals. Only Brighton are ahead of them there, with 10.2.
One Fulham win in 21 meetings, and none at all at the Cottage since 2009
Fulham have beaten United just once in the last 21 Premier League meetings, with the Red Devils winning 16 and drawing four. That lone Fulham victory came in February 2024, a 2-1 win at Old Trafford.
At Craven Cottage, the record is even more one-sided. Fulham are 10 league games without a win against United there, with two draws and eight defeats, since back-to-back home victories in 2009. In the last meeting in February, Benjamin Sesko snatched it for United with a 94th-minute winner in a 3-2 thriller.
Opta’s supercomputer gives United a 48.3% chance of victory, Fulham 27.5%, and the draw 24.2%. As for injuries, Matthijs de Ligt, Amad Diallo and Manuel Ugarte are out. Luke Shaw could return, which would mark his 300th Premier League appearance.
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