Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson can only see one outcome from Manchester United’s upcoming Premier League clash against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday.
Manchester United languish in 13th place in the Premier League table in the 2024-25 campaign and the Red Devils are 14 points adrift from fourth-place Chelsea.
Ruben Amorim’s men have only managed seven wins from 22 matches in the Premier League and the Red Devils have been beaten 10 times in the league alone.
United chalked up their first Premier League point of 2025 earlier this month after a 1-1 draw against league leaders Liverpool at Anfield.
The Red Devils picked up their first Premier League victory of the year after a 3-1 comeback win against Southampton at Old Trafford last Thursday.
Ruben Amorim’s side, who also knocked out Arsenal from the FA Cup this month, suffered a setback last weekend with their 3-1 Premier League defeat to Brighton.
Merson on Amorim and Man Utd difficulties
Manchester United bounced back from their loss to Brighton at Old Trafford with a hard-fought 2-1 win over Scottish side Rangers in the Europa League on Thursday.
Ruben Amorim is aware of the tough challenge he faces at United after becoming the sixth permanent manager at the club in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson era.
The 39-year-old Portuguese manager arrived at Old Trafford last November after United triggered his release clause at Primeira Liga side Sporting CP.
Erik ten Hag was axed as United manager last October and Ruud van Nistelrooy took over as interim Red Devils boss until Amorim’s arrival at the Premier League club.
Speaking in his column for Sportskeeda, Paul Merson has claimed that Amorim did not know the “size” of the task that he would have to overcome at United.
“I don’t think Amorim knew the size of the job he had in his hands when he first arrived,” he said.
“In Portugal, it’s just three big clubs fighting each other but it’s not the same here in England. This is a massive club in a massive league.
“[Sir] Jim Ratcliffe must be sitting there thinking, ‘What have I done buying this club?’
“Manchester United are one of the most famous sports teams ever, but if they don’t start winning, they will not be in that conversation anymore.
“Kids who grow up watching football will now start to support Liverpool or Arsenal because no-one wants to support a team that’s losing!
“Manchester United are 13th in the table for a reason and I think they will lose again.”
Merson’s Fulham vs Man Utd scoreline prediction
Fulham are 10th in the Premier League table and Marco Silva’s side are seven points clear of the Red Devils ahead of hosting United at Craven Cottage.
Marco Silva’s men defeated Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester City at the King Power Stadium last week in a 2-0 Premier League win.
Amorim initially suggested that his current United team were “maybe” the “worst team” in the Red Devils’ history after the Brighton defeat last week.
The former Sporting CP boss has since walked back on his scathing assessment, but Amorim did not play down the problems at Old Trafford.
Merson insisted that Amorim was not “wrong” with his initial remarks and the Sky Sports pundit backed Fulham to beat United 3-1 in their Premier League match.
“Nothing but a Fulham win, no I’m not joking here! It sounds crazy because we are still in an era where Manchester United dominated England,” he added.
“But this team isn’t like that. They don’t turn up to games like Liverpool, Arsenal or Manchester City. I know they did not lose to any of those three teams under Ruben Amorim.
“In the Arsenal game, Martin Odegaard missed a penalty. City shot themselves in the foot in the derby and if not, they could have lost that game. too! Liverpool game is the only exception with Harry Maguire missing that golden chance to get the win.
“So, you could say these results don’t really paint the accurate picture about where Manchester United are as a football club.
“Amorim isn’t wrong, this is one of the worst United teams. But he has to be more flexible though.
“If you keep playing three at the back when you don’t have the right players, you will be in trouble.”
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