BBC Sport pundit Chris Sutton has made a clear-cut scoreline prediction for Manchester United’s forthcoming FA Cup clash against Fulham at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils lifted the FA Cup trophy under Erik ten Hag last season after a sensational 2-1 win over Manchester City in the final at Wembley last May.
However, Erik ten Hag was sacked before the start of Manchester United’s FA Cup title defence and Ruben Amorim kicked off the Red Devils’ campaign last month.
Ruben Amorim’s side were reduced to 10 men in their third-round FA Cup tie against Arsenal and United overcame the odds and knocked the Gunners out on penalties.
Following the third-round win at the Emirates, United punched their ticket to the fourth round and hosted Leicester City at Old Trafford earlier this month.
The Red Devils were forced to come from behind to beat Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester City side and secured their place in the fifth round of the competition.
Sutton on Man Utd star ahead of Fulham clash
Alejandro Garnacho has been placed in the spotlight after what he did in Manchester United’s 3-2 Premier League win over Ipswich Town at Old Trafford on Wednesday.
The 20-year-old Spain-born attacker started the match for Ruben Amorim’s side, but Alejandro Garnacho would not see out the full first half against Ipswich Town.
United were reduced to 10 men in the opening 45 minutes after Patrick Dorgu was sent off for his reckless challenge on Ipswich’s Omari Hutchinson.
Following Patrick Dorgu’s red card, Amorim was forced to make a change and the United manager sacrificed Garnacho for Noussair Mazraoui before half-time.
Garnacho raised eyebrows after he was spotted storming down the tunnel after he was hooked off in Wednesday evening’s clash at Old Trafford.
Speaking in his BBC Sport column, Chris Sutton admitted that it will now be “interesting” to see how Amorim deals with the Argentina international.
“I am sick of backing Manchester United. Even though they beat Ipswich on Wednesday, they did not half make hard work of it and the Tractor Boys ran them close at Old Trafford,” he said.
“Alejandro Garnacho appeared to have a bit of a hissy fit after being hooked before half-time, so it will be interesting to see how Ruben Amorim deals with that.
“He won’t have any players left at this rate if he decides to leave Garnacho out.”
Sutton’s FA Cup prediction for Man Utd vs Fulham
United have already beaten Fulham twice — a 1-0 scoreline both times — in the Premier League under Erik ten Hag and Amorim this season.
Sutton has insisted that Marco Silva’s men will knock United out of the FA Cup and has backed Fulham to secure a 3-0 win over the Red Devils at Old Trafford on Sunday.
“United are the FA Cup holders and they have beaten Fulham home and away already this season but on both occasions, it was far from convincing, and I don’t really care about that anyway,” he said.
“Amorim is a likeable guy, and I’ve got sympathy for him about the size of his task at Old Trafford but, from watching United, I cannot think of any reason to back them to win this.
“I am usually wrong about Fulham, but they are going to take this one – 100%.”
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