Fulham manager Marco Silva said Manchester United have lacked the consistency they have craved this season, but still described them as a “really good team”.
The Cottagers will welcome United to Craven Cottage on Sunday in what is the Premier League’s final game before the pause for the World Cup. Fulham are four points behind Erik ten Hag’s side in ninth and have lost just one of their last five matches.
United’s nine-game unbeaten run ended in last Sunday’s 3-1 loss to Aston Villa, although they bounced back with a 4-2 win over the Villains in Thursday’s League Cup encounter. United sit fifth, three points off fourth place, although are unlikely to break the top four with a win due to Tottenham’s goal difference being 10 goals superior.
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“They haven't been consistent like they would like to be,” Silva said in his pre-match press conference. “If they're at their best level, they're a really tough team to play against and that's what we'll prepare for.
"They have quality all over the pitch and on the bench as well. Of course, they’ve had some setbacks over the season so far but we analyse them and we know what we're capable to do.
"There are strengths and weaknesses as well that we will try to explore. The focus is on them but the most important thing for us is ourselves."
United will face former midfielder Andreas Pereira for the first time since his summer exit to Fulham. The Brazilian had not played for United for more than two years when he finally departed after a permanent transfer to Flamengo failed to materialise.
Pereira has been one of the club’s standout performers this season, and netted a spot-kick in last week’s 2-1 loss to Manchester City. Pereira has earned praise from Silva who credited him for “performing well” and “adapting” to the squad.
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