Manchester United will want to exert the pressure on Liverpool by extended their lead at the head of the league table, while Fulham will want to continue their march into the top half...Kick Off: Wednesday, 18 February, 20:00 GMT Old Trafford, Manchester
After a great performance from Manchester United's supporting cast against Derby County in the FA Cup, the club now resume to one of their primary targets - the retention of the Premier League crown.
By winning their game in hand over Fulham, the reigning league champions will extend their lead to five points over second-placed Liverpool. A formidable cushion considering how rapid "squeaky bum-time" is approaching.
Fulham fans may be left reeling by the manner in which loveable railleur Jimmy Bullard left the club. His exit was down to contract demands that the Craven Cottage outfit could not meet, yet the £5 million received from Hull City would not fill the void left by the Londoner in a dressing room that is now no doubt quieter.
Roy Hodgson though, and despite Fulham's thrift, brought in out-of-favour Inter midfielder Olivier Dacourt on a loan basis until the end of the season (by which point his contract at the Serie A giants will have expired).
If Fulham are to steal anything away from United in this tie then the experience and tactical nuance of Dacourt could be key, especially when up against a roaming forward line that will no doubt include Cristiano Ronaldo.
The west Londoners will also be looking to bounce back after a disappointing FA Cup draw against a highly-impressive passing display from Championship side Swansea. Such is the extent of the football imposed upon Fulham, that one BBC presenter even asked the question, and I paraphrase: "forget being one of the best in the Championship, are they one of the best in the country?"
Not only is a result going to be hard to get at Old Trafford, an arena where Manchester United have stormed to six successive wins, but if they find themselves going a goal down, then they will have to spoil a growing record set by Edwin van der Sar and United's ever-changing rearguard of 13 (and counting) league clean sheets.
Should Van der Sar and the fearsome foursome in front of him manage to frustrate Fulham for 64 minutes, then they will break the world record set by Atletico Madrid's Abel Resino at 1275 minutes without conceding.
FORM GUIDE
Manchester United:
15 Feb vs Derby County (A) WON 4-1
8th Feb vs. West Ham United (A) WON 1-0
31st Jan vs. Everton (H) WON 1-0
27th Jan vs. West Bromwich Albion (A) WON 5-0
24th Jan vs. Tottenham Hotspur (H) WON 2-1
Fulham:
14th Feb vs. Swansea (A) DREW 1-1
07th Feb vs. Wigan (A) DREW 0-0
31st Jan vs. Portsmouth (H) WON 3-1
27th Jan vs. Sunderland (A) LOST 1-0
24th Jan vs. Kettering (A) WON 2-4
TEAM NEWS
Manchester United:
Wayne Rooney will be making a comeback, but that is set for the Blackburn Rovers game, and not this fixture.
Last starting XI (v Derby County): Foster - Rafael, Ferdinand, Evans, Evra (O'Shea 55) - Park (Welbeck 55), Fletcher, Gibson, Nani - Giggs - Ronaldo (Possebon 72).
Fulham:
Last starting XI (v Swansea): Schwarzer - Stoor, Hangeland, Hughes, Konchesky - Nevland (Zamora 75), Gera, Murphy, Davies, Dacourt (Dempsey 60) - Johnson (Gray 85).
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Manchester United:
While Nemanja Vidic has rightfully received widespread punditry acclaim, it is important not to neglect the contributions of Michael Carrick. The former will have to once again be on guard if he is to help propel the club into the global record books, while the latter's playmaking and passing credentials will need to be on form in order to break down a Fulham defence that has been fairly solid this term.
Fulham:
The player was instantly hailed by Roy Hodgson, who said that all he needed was match practice in order to re-introduce himself with the pace and rigours of Premier League duty. That player is Olivier Dacourt.
PREDICTION
Manchester United 1-0 Fulham
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