Fulham v Man Utd: Key stats and talking points

Manchester United are set to face Fulham in a crucial Premier League match on Sunday, with both teams in urgent need of a win as they head into a lengthy international break. United currently sit 13th in the table, eight points behind leaders Arsenal and Manchester City, while Fulham are already in the relegation zone after just four games.

The Red Devils' recent form has been poor, winning only one of their opening four Premier League matches, leaving them trailing behind the early leaders. Add to that the uncertainty surrounding academy star JJ Gabriel's future, and head coach Michael Carrick is desperate for a positive result away at Fulham.

United's strong historical record against Fulham, with just one loss in the past 21 league meetings, suggests that a win could be within reach. However, the club's main striker, Benjamin Sesko, has only been used as a substitute in their recent games and has yet to score in four matches while starting. With his limited impact, United manager Carrick may opt to give the 27-year-old a start, hoping he can convert some of the many shots United are creating.

Fulham, on the other hand, find themselves battling relegation after just four games, sitting 18th in the table. New head coach Alvaro Arbeloa is struggling to turn things around, with his side losing three of their last four matches by a one-goal margin. Despite a recent bright spot with a 3-2 win over West Ham United in the EFL Cup, Fulham still need a significant boost in their performance to escape the drop zone.