Manchester United will be facing off against Fulham this Sunday at an unconventional kick-off time of 7pm at Craven Cottage. The match will mark the first time Premier League teams play at this time on a Sunday, setting it apart from regular schedules. Both teams will clash in this evening match, after all other Premier League teams have already completed their weekend fixtures. Fulham and Manchester United were also the last teams to take the field in the opening week of the season, with Joshua Zirkzee making a memorable debut for United by scoring the winning goal.
Despite their initial season opener success, both Fulham and United have followed different trajectories throughout the season. Fulham currently sits comfortably in 10th place in the table, while United has faced challenges and currently lingers in 13th place after parting ways with Erik ten Hag in October. The unique 7pm kick-off time is attributed to TNT Sports selecting the match for television coverage. The traditional 12.30pm Saturday slot was not feasible due to United’s Europa League commitments, leading to this unusual timing for the match.
Sky Sports is set to broadcast games at 2pm and 4.30pm on Sunday, leaving TNT Sports unable to schedule the Fulham vs. Manchester United clash at other conventional timings. A 12pm Sunday kick-off was considered but was deemed too close to United’s Thursday night Europa League game against Rangers. If not chosen for television coverage, the game might have been scheduled for Sunday at 2pm, coinciding with the non-televised match between Tottenham and Leicester City.
Manchester United’s head coach Ruben Amorim expressed uncertainty regarding the availability of defenders Leny Yoro and Matthijs de Ligt for Sunday’s match. Meanwhile, Fulham will be missing Kenny Tete and Reiss Nelson, with Nelson nearing a return. Sander Berge, previously linked with Manchester United before joining Fulham, made a successful comeback from injury in Fulham’s last league game. The match promises to be an intriguing encounter as both teams seek to secure vital points in the Premier League. With the unusual timing adding a layer of intrigue, football fans will be eager to tune in and witness the action unfold at Craven Cottage.