Resuming their quest for successive FA Cup crowns, holders Manchester United vie for a spot in the quarter-finals with fellow top-flight outfit Fulham on Sunday afternoon at Old Trafford.
Ruben Amorim's men controversially progressed past Leicester City 2-1 in the fourth round, while the Cottagers narrowly bested former winners Wigan Athletic by the same scoreline.
Match preview
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The ground where the 'Fergie time' phenomenon was coined became the site of 'offside time' as Ruud van Nistelrooy put it, as the erstwhile Man United striker and manager was left to bemoan the absence of technology in Leicester's unjust FA Cup exit at Old Trafford.
A Bobby Decordova-Reid opener and Joshua Zirkzee reply had the fourth-round battle on February 7 heading towards extra time, only for former Foxes centre-back Harry Maguire to peel away from his marker and head home a bedlam-inducing winner from an offside position.
No VAR meant no overturning the linesman's incorrect original call, but there was nothing controversial about Maguire's latest act of heading heroism, as the £80m man capped off a gritty Red Devils fightback in a 3-2 Premier League success over Ipswich Town in midweek.
However, Amorim's out-of-sorts men had taken just one point from their previous three top-flight games prior to that nervy triumph - a dismal streak that has them 14th in the standings - and retaining their FA Cup crown is surely their most realistic route back to European competition.
Of course, the hosts could go all the way in the Europa League to dine at the continent's top table again, but history favours them more in this competition; Man United have won each of their last 14 FA Cup fifth-round ties since being dumped out at this point by Liverpool in 2005-06.
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The Merseyside giants went on to hoist the trophy aloft that year, a positive omen for Fulham if they can repeat the Reds' trick against the Red Devils as they go in search of their first-ever FA Cup triumph; reaching the 1975 final remains their best result in the tournament.
However, Marco Silva's men have every right to be considered dark horses for the 2024-25 title and have already seen off Watford and 2012-13 winners Wigan to earn a date with the holders, as Rodrigo Muniz was at the double against the Latics last time out.
Similar to Maguire - who was Man United's hero in their last FA Cup and Premier League games - Muniz also had the final say in midweek, as his cheeky chip propelled the Cottagers to a 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton Wanderers, their fourth win from five in all tournaments.
Firmly involved in the race for Europe in the top half of the Premier League standings, Silva's side also arrive at the Theatre of Dreams with a knack for success on the road, winning each of their last four matches away from home and scoring twice in each of their last seven.
In fact, the last team to prevent Fulham from finding the back of the net on rival turf was Man United themselves in the opening weekend of the 2024-25 Premier League season, since when they have also edged out Silva's side 1-0 at Craven Cottage and memorably beat the Cottagers in a chaotic 2022-23 FA Cup quarter-final following an Aleksandar Mitrovic meltdown.
Team News
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Man United overcame newly-promoted Ipswich despite playing the entire second half with 10 men after Patrick Dorgu's red card; the January signing now begins a three-game domestic ban for serious foul play after his dangerous tackle on Omari Hutchinson.
Dorgu's absence further ravages a Man United side also missing Lisandro Martinez (ACL), Amad Diallo (ankle), Luke Shaw (calf), Jonny Evans (back) and Mason Mount (thigh), while Kobbie Mainoo, Toby Collyer, Tom Heaton and Altay Bayindir should not be back from their unspecified concerns just yet either.
A recall for Noussair Mazraoui surely awaits following Dorgu's dismissal; the Morocco international replaced a visibly miffed Alejandro Garnacho in midweek, and the Argentine himself is now a doubt due to a knock, but Amorim expects him to make the cut.
Fulham also have a player sitting on a naughty step, although Sasa Lukic's ban for picking up 10 Premier League yellows only applies to top-flight games, so he should reprise his role in midfield at Old Trafford.
However, Emile Smith Rowe is uncertain due to the ankle injury he sustained versus Crystal Palace last weekend, while fellow Arsenal graduate Reiss Nelson (thigh), Harry Wilson (foot) and Kenny Tete (knee) are still absent.
Muniz's heroics against Wigan and Wolves means that he could hardly have done more for a starting role ahead of Raul Jimenez on Sunday, while ex-Red Devil Andreas Pereira should pull the creative strings in Smith Rowe's absence.
Manchester United possible starting lineup:
Onana; Yoro, De Ligt, Maguire; Mazraoui, Ugarte, Casemiro, Dalot; Garnacho, Fernandes; Zirkzee
Fulham possible starting lineup:
Leno; Castagne, Andersen, Bassey, Robinson; Berge, Lukic; Traore, Pereira, Iwobi; Muniz
We say: Manchester United 1-2 Fulham (a.e.t)
Still searching for their first home clean sheet since December 1, Man United should not obtain one against a goal-happy Fulham side who strike multiple times on the road for fun, even if the Cottagers' defending also leaves something to be desired at times.
Backing Amorim's men to win any football match at present is extremely difficult, thanks in no small part to their unenviable fitness situation, and we have faith in Fulham to end the Red Devils' title defence at the end of a two-hour marathon.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Ben Knapton
