Football is the best game in the world. No debate is acceptable here. If you think otherwise, you are wrong. Simple as that. It's our emotion, and sometimes it's hurt more than we deserve. Sometimes it gets cruel and teaches you that anything can happen, and you must be ready for it. There is no such thing as a surprise. In the end, it's you who missed out. There is no such thing as luck; it’s always someone who got fucked, and you are just on a side. That’s it. Still, it hurts. No wonder why we love football; the excitement and thrill football offers is just criminal.
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United have lost just one of their last 18 Premier League games against promoted sides (W11 D6), going down 4-1 at Watford in November last season.
United's nine-match unbeaten run in all competitions ended last time in the Premier League as they suffered a 3-1 defeat to Aston Villa in Unai Emery's first match in charge of the club. They were looking to bounce back going into the World Cup break, and they came in on the back of a 4-2 victory over Villa in the EFL Cup in midweek.
Erik ten Hag made six changes from the EFL Cup win over Villa on Thursday, bringing De Gea, Martinez, Shaw, Casemiro, Eriksen, and Elanga in. Fernandes retained his place to make his 100th Premier League appearance. Dubravka, Maguire, McTominay, Fred, and Van de Beek were dropped to the bench. Diogo Dalot was suspended, while Cristiano Ronaldo missed out again through illness.
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UNITED XI (4-2-3-1): David de Gea; Tyrell Malacia, Victor Lindelof, Lisandro Martinez, Luke Shaw; Casemiro, Christian Eriksen; Anthony Elanga, Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford; Anthony Martial.
SUBS: Nathan Bishop, Zidane Iqbal, Martin Dubravka, Alejandro Garnacho, Harry Maguire, Fred, Donny van de Beek, Scott McTominay.
Presenting your United starting XI 👊#MUFC || #FULMUN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 13, 2022
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Fulham was still going strong on their return to the top flight. They sat in the top half of the table despite suffering a last-minute defeat to 10-man Manchester City last weekend, which ended a four-match unbeaten run in the competition (W2 D2).
To maintain the seat in the top half, Marco Silva made two changes to the side that lost at City, which was enforced. Kenny Tete and Harrison Reed picked up their fifth yellow cards of the season, so they're suspended. De Cordova-Reid returned from a ban of his own, with Cairney coming in. Top-scorer, Aleksandar Mitrovic, was still out with a foot injury.
FULHAM XI (4-2-3-1): Bernd Leno; Bobby De Cordova-Reid, Issa Diop, Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson; Tom Cairney, Joao Palhinha; Harry Wilson, Andreas Pereira, Willian; Carlos Vinicius.
THE XI! 🤍#FULMUN pic.twitter.com/KVhD6UmFMi
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) November 13, 2022
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United struggled to get a touch on the ball as the hosts patiently worked it upfield. Fulham made a really bright start to this game, and United struggled to cope with their high press. But it’s United to have the first laugh. ERIKSEN SCORED! It started with a brilliant interception from Casemiro to set United on the counter before Eriksen helped it onto Martial. He turned and carried it to the edge of the D-box before touching it into Fernandes, and he squared it to the far post for Eriksen to slide in and finish the move. 1-0 United!
Up and running in United red. What a moment for @ChrisEriksen8! 🔴#MUFC || #FULMUN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 14, 2022
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Fulham were back to keeping possession again. United were struggling to deal with the threat coming down Fulham's left side. Robinson was getting so much joy down the right; Fulham were working it up the field quickly and throwing everything at De Gea. How on earth someone this good can’t make even the 50++ list for Spain? All I want to say is that football is cursed, and the curse is Barcelona and their shit house. No wonder why they are hated by almost every other fan base. I know what’s wrong with Luis Enrique, but I will talk about it another day
The final line of defence 🚫
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 14, 2022
There were more top stops from @D_DeGea during #FULMUN 👏#MUFC || #PL
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Eriksen almost doubled their lead right on the stroke of half-time but fired just wide. The hosts arguably had the better first half, but despite opening United up, they couldn't find a way through, with De Gea making good saves to deny Vinicius and Wilson.
The Fulham fans weren't happy as they felt that the referee wasn't giving any decisions their way. And De Gea was just too good. He was the reason why United weren't down by two or three.
Fulham made their first change, with James coming on to face his former club in place of Wilson. And what a substitution! Finally, justice was served! Fulham got what they deserved from the very beginning of the game.
JAMES EQUALIZESD! Fernandes kept Eriksen's big switch in play, but it benefitted Fulham as they broke on the counter from it. Robinson played it down the left for Willian, who helped it onto Cairney, and he placed a first-time cross into the six-yard box. James met it in the middle, and it hit De Gea before bouncing over the line. 1-1!
59' @Daniel_James_97 subbed on.
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) November 13, 2022
62' @Daniel_James_97 scores.#FFC pic.twitter.com/LY892oJXFw
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Fulham kept the pressure on United and forced them rare chances to get forward. United couldn’t keep hold of the ball when they advanced out of their half. Fulham deserved all three points, but the game had another laugh for them. GARNACHO SCORED! It's a brilliantly-worked goal from United down their left, with Shaw knocking it out to Garnacho, who then played a one-two with Eriksen to get into the box. It looked like there might not be enough on Eriksen's through-ball at first, but Garnacho pushed his way onto the end of it as he wanted it more than De Cordova-Reid and got in front of the defender to hit a low shot across the goal, and Leno couldn’t stop it from rolling into the far bottom corner. 2-1 United!
Some way to open your #PL account, @AGarnacho7 👏🔓#MUFC || #FULMUN
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) November 15, 2022
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United stay in fifth place and go into the World Cup break just three points off the top four. Their first game back after the break is an EFL Cup tie with Burnley. Fulham suffer back-to-back defeats but stay in ninth, which is their best position after 15 games since 2009 📈. They'll face Crystal Palace in their next match in December.
HIGHLIGHTS
With more possession, more corners, more passes, more tackles, and a better display of performances, it was not enough for Fulham. Yes, football was cruel that day, but the excitement and thrill were top-notch. When it's football, it never fails to play with our emotions.
