Dugout Discussion

Rashford benched as Solskjaer makes six changes to the United XI

Gameweek 26 kicks off at 12:30 GMT as Fulham entertain Manchester United at Craven Cottage.

The headline team news concerns the benching of Marcus Rashford, who fails to start a Manchester United league match for the first time since Gameweek 13.

Romelu Lukaku, Anthony Martial and Juan Mata are recalled up front as Alexis Sanchez and Jesse Lingard make way, while Chris Smalling, Phil Jones and Diogo Dalot replace Eric Bailly, Victor Lindelof and Ashley Young at the back.

The United boss said of his team selection:

There’s a couple of niggles. Rashy got a dead leg against Leicester that he struggled with all week so we don’t want to risk him. Victor’s out, there’s not really a concern, I think he’ll be OK for Tuesday.

The visitors are still unbeaten under Solskjaer and have won all four of their away Premier League fixtures since the Norwegian took charge, keeping clean sheets in each of their last three matches on the road.

Despite their excellent defensive record on their travels since Solskjaer took the reigns, only two clubs have allowed more shots on target than United in their last four away days.

Pogba has only blanked in one of eight Premier League matches under the interim head coach.

Rashford had scored in every away league fixture since Solskjaer took over coming into this weekend.

Claudio Ranieri has made two changes to his side and has switched from a wing-back system to a back four.

Andre Schurrle and Luciano Vietto replace Cyrus Christie and Tom Cairney  in the hosts’ starting XI.

Ranieri had appeared to steady the ship at Fulham after his appointment but the Cottagers have conceded more goals and big chances in 2019 than any other side in the division.

The Cottagers are the only Premier League club without a clean sheet his calendar year.

Fulham XI (4-2-3-1): Rico, Odoi, Le Marchand, Ream, Bryan, Seri, Chambers, Schürrle, Babel, Vietto, Mitrovic.

Manchester United XI (4-3-3): De Gea, Dalot, Jones, Smalling, Shaw, Herrera, Matic, Pogba, Mata, Lukaku, Martial.

1,618 Comments Post a Comment
  1. Louis Van Gaalstones
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    United playing really well without a striker

  2. Jafooli
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Nobody suggested Martial when I asked who I should transfer in for Rashford. Thanks, why do I bother with this place.

    1. clodhopper
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Midfielder an striker

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Midfielder you idiot.

      1. Jafooli
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        This

        1. La Roja
          • 12 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          This

          1. Forza Papac
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 8 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            This

    3. Mike2795647
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      You do realise that Martial is a midfield and Rashford is a striker don’t you?

      1. fr3d
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        C'mon

    4. Mysterion
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      You're gonna need a massive boat for this one...

      1. La Roja
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Another fish has been catched by Jafooli

    5. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Beautiful trolling 🙂

    6. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Jafooli doing the Jafooli things 😛

    7. TheTinman
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      They bite

    8. Ginkapo FPL
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Check your pm's. I did

    9. Brosstan
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      This never fails to get a few 😆

    10. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Well played sir 🙂

    11. LSK
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Lol too easy

    12. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Fish... Fish everywhere...

    13. Modest Bob
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      We should be friends

  3. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    0-2 HT

    1. Rash
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Thanks Jeff

  4. Royal5
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Lukaku non existant

  5. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    United should be gone with Big Rom, he’s useless

    1. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      What actually happened to him?

      1. Royal5
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Over eating

      2. Rash
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        He put on too much muscle mass for the world cup and has struggled ever since

        1. No Professionals
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Also, he's rubbish.

          1. Cilly Bonnolly
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Amazing how people suddenly decide players are rubbish once they sign for United.

            1. No Professionals
              • 6 Years
              5 years, 2 months ago

              Never rated him personally. Zero footballing intelligence, and the turning circle of a frigate.

      3. DAZZ
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        I dont remember him touching the ball

      4. Brosstan
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        He fell for the bulking up meme

      5. tisza
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        struggled under Mourinho as just wasn't getting any service.
        he's not suited to this quick, inter-changing football.
        did bulk up too much for WC.
        Still a very good player in right system and is a player who needs a run of games rather than just popping in and out of the team.

      6. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
        • 14 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Ate too many carbs

  6. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Where will Lukaku be next season? WBA? Villa? Stoke?

    1. Silecro
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Glorious return to WBA

    2. Rupert The Horse
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Chicken Cottage.

    3. LǝgleSs e|even
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Wherever Jose ends up

    4. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Rondon 2.0

    5. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
      • 14 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Sumo Wrestling Championship - Super Heavyweight Division

    6. mitro
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Everton

    7. jimmyabs1987
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Spurs probably haha

    8. LSK
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      WWE

      1. Eytexi
        • 5 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Some may say the next Titus O'Neil.

    9. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Back to Everton

    10. My heart goes Salalalalah
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      KFC

    11. tisza
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      wouldn't be surprised to see him ending up in Italy at one of the big clubs

    12. aborg
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      For some reason he played so well with Everton. I think he should go back there !

    13. Old Man
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Rochdale or China

  7. fr3d
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Pogba not limping down the tunnel

  8. LǝgleSs e|even
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Chances of a Rashford appearance?

    1. Crouching Tiger
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      See above

      1. Now I'm Panicking
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Is that a euphemism?

    2. tafrère
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Unlikely.

      1. Royal5
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Very likely. Lukaku can barely move.

        1. Garfield1001
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Sanchez instead tho?

          1. Royal5
            • 12 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            For Martial

    3. clodhopper
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      99 percent

    4. fr3d
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Very likely

    5. DAZZ
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      The way Lukaku is playing, 100% its legit like united are playing with 10 men, Pog and Martial just bypass Rom and go on their own, hes useless

  9. pjomara
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    If Man U beat Liverpool on Feb 24th, I think they'll finish above Liverpool in the league.

    1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Can't see that happening, if Liverpool win today they'll be back to 14 points behind. Too many points to catch up at this stage of the season

    2. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Ha, good one

    3. gaurava1216
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      If spurs win their next 4 they win the title....

  10. FER FUSCH AKE
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    United playing really well with 10 men.

  11. Maximus Bonimus Pointimus
    • 14 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Just give the treble to Man Utd now and be done with it

  12. Garfield1001
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    If OGS said he didn’t want to risk Rashford, then why would he bring him on if winning the game?

    1. Teror
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      He wouldn't.

    2. Team Cruel
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      To rest Lukaku?

      1. el polako
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        He needs some cardio, should stay on the pitch even after the gane.

      2. Garfield1001
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Why do they need to rest him? Not starting or playing a big part against PSG

    3. LǝgleSs e|even
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      As a backup if things don't go their way.. Bigger risk trusting Kaku, than to play Rashy

    4. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Give him 10/15 mins to keep him in the groove. Hasn't played a game for a week now.

    5. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Relax Garfield. Nothing you can do about it now. Just enjoy the game 🙂

    6. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Dude, let it go 🙂

  13. Teror
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    If Ranieri manages to guide Fulham to 17th I just might stick a cheeky £500 on them to win the Premier League next season.

    1. ZeBestee
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Are you trying to equate the 2?

      1. ZeBestee
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        They will need a Mahrez and a Vardy, Mitro and Schurlle arent anywhere near the quality. Not forgetting a Kante.

    2. L'Aeroplanino
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      shame they are going down

  14. Differential C (Mark)
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Fulham to do a Burnley.

  15. Hy liverpool
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Best PL players this year so far

    Alisson
    AWB VVD Laporte Robbo
    Fernandinho Bilva
    Salah Pogba Hazard
    Auba

    Gini over Bilva?

    1. Garfield1001
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Allison? LOL

      1. Hy liverpool
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Who is better than him this year?

        1. Garfield1001
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          A LOT of keepers. He is a liability

          1. Hy liverpool
            • 10 Years
            5 years, 2 months ago

            Name one then?

            1. Garfield1001
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              5 years, 2 months ago

              De Gea.

              1. Hy liverpool
                • 10 Years
                5 years, 2 months ago

                I knew

        2. jomikijiq
          • 8 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Foster and Fabianski are having great seasons

      2. Mysterion
        • 6 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        No, Alisson

    2. Eytexi
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Reshuffle formation and son over bilva?

      1. Hy liverpool
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Fernandinho pogba
        Salah Hazard Son
        Auba

        1. Eytexi
          • 5 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          Precisely - looks better to me.

    3. Business Cat
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Doherty needs to be in there

      Maybe Jiminez or Aguero

      1. Business Cat
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Oh, and Son of course

      2. Hy liverpool
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Doherty vs AWB ? Tough one both are brilliant

    4. No Professionals
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Alisson has conceded 8 of his last 12 shots on target. Suggests his record is more due to the defenders than him being brilliant.

    5. Goat
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Pogba? I presume this is 2019 only?

    6. Shultan
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Son over hazard

  16. Totalfootball
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Think Sanchez gets on for martial
    Lingard for Mata
    and maybe Mctominay for Pogba if winning 3-0 ?!

    1. DAZZ
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Lukaku is not reaching 90

      1. Totalfootball
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Yeah this

    2. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      McTom on for Herrera imo.

      Maybe Lingard on for Pogba.

  17. Team Cruel
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    No United player has scored a league hat-trick since RVP in April 2013. Safe to say it won't happen today either.

    1. kalmoffit
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Lukaku

  18. DAZZ
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    TAA and Auba the most anticipated names on the sheets today?

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Yes.

      Hope that helps.

    2. el polako
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Not for me.

    3. Jafooli
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Sane

    4. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Could really do with an Auba benching as a Laca owner

    5. Typo
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Prob noshow for auba

      1. clodhopper
        • 10 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        He travelled

        1. Typo
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 10 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          This makes me happy

  19. ZeBestee
    • 9 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Why was Lukaku moaning when Pogba scored?

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      He wanted the ball on a plate and didn't get it.

      1. Team Cruel
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 8 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        He loves things on a plate.

        1. TheDragon
          • 6 Years
          5 years, 2 months ago

          This is an awesome reply!!

      2. ZeBestee
        • 9 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        At least celebrate the goal then he can moan later on.

    2. Now I'm Panicking
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      He just came

    3. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Because he can't finish from his stronger foot the chance Paul finished from his weaker one 😉

  20. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Can't believe this stat:

    Allison has conceded 7 of the 11 shots on target that he's faced in 2019

    1. el polako
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Half a season wonder.

      1. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
        • 7 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Really hasn't been impressive of late, to think Liverpool fans were saying he's the best GK in the League back in December

    2. Hotdogs for Tea
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Obviously only the good ones get through

    3. Adam West - Team Serbia for…
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      That feels like a misleading statistic I mean some shots simply aren't saveable

    4. Differential C (Mark)
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      To be fair, if a player gets past VvD, he 8 times out of 10 probably has the skill to engineer a very decent shot.

    5. g40steve
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Cheap keepers doing well this year.

    6. Totalfootball
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      To be honest , don't think he is that good a shot stopper , as compared to someone like a De yea
      Just that Pools defence this season with Vvd is so insane that no one gets past them !

      1. Old Man
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 12 Years
        5 years, 2 months ago

        Dear old Etheridge is a decent shot stopper

    7. Mysterion
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Weak stat - not only are you setting an arbitrary cutoff point, it's useless to look at shots on target in isolation for teams like City and Pool that concede so few shots on the whole

  21. Modest Bob
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Anyone want out from the offy?

    1. Podge
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Just the contents of the till ta

    2. Modest Bob
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Hahahaha me too

  22. diesel001
    • 7 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Jones on 19 bps and the CS hasn't been added yet.....

    1. Royal5
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      And?

    2. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Yep
      Pogba needs one more return to get bps i think 😮

  23. Differential C (Mark)
    • 8 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Vietto, wasn't he lighting LaLiga on fire for a bit with Viarreal a few years ago? Seemrd like all the big clubs were after him, looked like the next big thing.
    Now he's misplacing passes and shooting pathtically with a relegation-threatened side.
    Almost incredible.

  24. el polako
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Windy day.
    How will poor Liverpool cope ?

    1. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Postpone the game.

    2. Piggs Boson
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      By diving.

    3. Differential C (Mark)
      • 8 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      That's Klopp's post-match excuse sorted out then.

  25. Epic Fail
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    I hope someone has got the emergency services on speed dial for Garfield in the 2nd half.

    1. Garfield1001
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

    2. Garfield1001
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      🙂

    3. el polako
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      I will let RSPCA know

    4. Garfield1001
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Really shouldn’t take is seriously as it’s only a game but it takes over at times. Feel like every decision is going against me in the past few weeks and not getting any luck

    5. Garfield1001
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 10 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Also had the opportunity to bench Rashford for Richarlison given the benching leaks but bottled it in case false

    6. DAZZ
      • 9 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

  26. Van der Faart
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 12 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    One more from Pogba would be nice. Lukaku is trash though so not holding much hope

  27. DGW Sane TC Fail....
    • 13 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Not sure what to expect from Liverpool today. They always crumble when it comes to the end of the season and the pressure is high now to regain the top spot. Do we think Liverpool have a stronger backbone this season?

    1. Epic Fail
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 13 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Dunno about the backbone but they are a much better team than they have been before.

    2. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Today 4-0 is on the cards. Not sure about the title or anything else

    3. SAKA AND EMILE SMITH ROWE
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Hope Bournemouth do the footballing world proud and get a result, can't have Liverpool winning the League, we'll never hear the end of it

    4. Van der Faart
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 12 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Certainly team Is stronger but mentally maybe not. A strong mentality is not something that just happens.

    5. el polako
      • 6 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Its also windy, Klopp blamed poor performance on wind before.

    6. diesel001
      • 7 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      They just need to protect the right side of the defence more IMO. Matip and Milner are crap. Once they secure that weakness then the goals will come from the secure base.

  28. Samwise
    • 5 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    come on Leeds! Need a win this week!!!!

  29. El Matador
    • 10 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Auba to outscore Salah?

    1. Amey
      • 5 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      He's my VC
      But will be more than happy if this happens

  30. g40steve
    • 6 Years
    5 years, 2 months ago

    Kaku really is rusty

    1. RamaJama
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 11 Years
      5 years, 2 months ago

      Can’t understand Ole is gambling by starting him at all. Remember when it was consensus here that when Kaku and Sanchez were fit, Rash and Martial would be only subs?