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Edinson Cavani welcomed the return of fans back to the Premier League with a brilliant 40-yard lobbed goal, but Manchester United were unable to mark the occasion with a victory as relegated Fulham came back to draw at Old Trafford
Aside from a handful of games at a lucky few clubs in December, supporters have been absent from top-flight league football since 9 March 2020.
No supporters have seen a goal at Old Trafford since Scott McTominay’s inspired second in United’s Manchester derby win over City the day before.
There were only 10,000 present to see Cavani’s inspired effort, but what a noise they made as the Uruguayan strode onto a long ball downfield from David de Gea, which VAR felt touched Bruno Fernandes on the way through, before lifting the ball over Alphonso Areola with a perfectly executed finish that floated into the net.
For a long time it looked like being the winner, until Joe Bryan was allowed to ghost in at the far post unchallenged to convert Bobby Decordova-Reid’s deep cross from the right.
De Gea’s uncertain future
After Alisson’s amazing winner for Liverpool on Sunday, there was genuine debate around whether De Gea made another telling contribution by a goalkeeper to his team’s offensive effort.
TV replays indicated Fernandes failed to get a touch as he attempted to flick De Gea’s pass through to Cavani. But if that was correct, Cavani should have been ruled offside by VAR.
De Gea’s selection was interesting in itself.
The Spain keeper has lost his place to Dean Henderson in recent weeks, but Henderson was at fault for at least one of Liverpool’s four goals in their win over United six days previously, so it was not completely clear whether De Gea had got his place back or was being granted a farewell appearance after 10 years of largely outstanding service.
Both scenarios have their complications. For Henderson, another season as back up is unlikely to appeal given his England aspirations, whilst De Gea is one of the Premier League’s highest-paid players. Finding a club to match that salary, let alone pay a transfer fee, is not going to be easy.
Until Bryan’s goal, De Gea did not have much to do against the top-flight’s second-worst attack. He did make saves to deny Ademola Lookman and Fabio Carvalho and had little chance of keeping Bryan’s equaliser out.
More to follow.
Line-ups
Man Utd
Formation 4-2-3-1
- 1de Gea
- 29Wan-Bissaka
- 2Lindelöf
- 38Tuanzebe
- 23ShawBooked at 89mins
- 39McTominaySubstituted forRashfordat 62′minutes
- 17Fred
- 11GreenwoodSubstituted forDialloat 83′minutes
- 18Bruno FernandesBooked at 18mins
- 6Pogba
- 7CavaniSubstituted forvan de Beekat 87′minutes
Substitutes
- 3Bailly
- 8Mata
- 10Rashford
- 19Diallo
- 26Henderson
- 27Telles
- 31Matic
- 33Williams
- 34van de Beek
Fulham
Formation 4-2-2-2
- 1AreolaBooked at 90mins
- 18LeminaBooked at 51mins
- 16Tosin
- 13Ream
- 23Bryan
- 29Zambo Anguissa
- 21ReedSubstituted forAndersenat 32′minutes
- 14De Cordova-Reid
- 19LookmanBooked at 87minsSubstituted forTeteat 89′minutes
- 48CarvalhoSubstituted forLoftus-Cheekat 63′minutes
- 17Cavaleiro
Substitutes
- 2Tete
- 3Hector
- 4Odoi
- 5Andersen
- 12Rodák
- 15Loftus-Cheek
- 25Onomah
- 27Maja
- 34Aina
Live Text
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Match ends, Manchester United 1, Fulham 1.
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Second Half ends, Manchester United 1, Fulham 1.
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Alphonse Areola (Fulham) is shown the yellow card.
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Amad (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Joe Bryan (Fulham).
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Attempt blocked. Joe Bryan (Fulham) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Ivan Cavaleiro.
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Foul by Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Manchester United).
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Bobby De Cordova-Reid (Fulham) wins a free kick on the left wing.
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Luke Shaw (Manchester United) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Foul by Luke Shaw (Manchester United).
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Kenny Tete (Fulham) wins a free kick on the right wing.
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Substitution, Fulham. Kenny Tete replaces Ademola Lookman.
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Substitution, Manchester United. Donny van de Beek replaces Edinson Cavani.
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Ademola Lookman (Fulham) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
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Aaron Wan-Bissaka (Manchester United) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
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Foul by Ademola Lookman (Fulham).
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Substitution, Manchester United. Amad replaces Mason Greenwood.
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Attempt saved. Bruno Fernandes (Manchester United) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner. Assisted by Paul Pogba.
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Foul by Axel Tuanzebe (Manchester United).
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Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Fulham) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
How to play
Rate players out of 10 throughout or after the game. The rater will close 30 minutes after the final whistle.
Rating range key = Give it up = Pure perfection
Manchester United
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Squad number10Player nameRashford
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Squad number19Player nameAmad
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Squad number34Player namevan de Beek
Fulham
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Squad number1Player nameAreola
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Squad number18Player nameLemina
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Squad number16Player nameTosin
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Squad number13Player nameReam
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Squad number23Player nameBryan
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Squad number29Player nameZambo Anguissa
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Squad number21Player nameReed
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Squad number14Player nameDe Cordova-Reid
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Squad number19Player nameLookman
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Squad number48Player nameCarvalho
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Squad number17Player nameCavaleiro
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Squad number2Player nameTete
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Squad number5Player nameAndersen
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Squad number15Player nameLoftus-Cheek
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