Paul Pogba’s sensational strike sent Manchester United back to the top of the Premier League as a 2-1 victory at Fulham extended their unbeaten away run to a record-equalling 17 matches.
United had slipped below both Leicester City and rivals Manchester City in the prior 24 hours but had a response at Craven Cottage despite trailing again to Ademola Lookman’s early effort on Wednesday.
It was the seventh time Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side had conceded first on the road in the league this season, yet goals from Edinson Cavani and, in spectacular fashion, Pogba ensured this encounter ended in the same fashion as the previous six with a United win.
The Red Devils have not lost a league fixture away from Old Trafford in more than a year and their 17-game streak now matches the club’s Premier League benchmark, set in 1999 when Solskjaer was a player under Alex Ferguson.
That sequence stretched across consecutive title-winning campaigns and United will hope to be celebrating again come May, although they were given another scare by Fulham with just five minutes on the clock.
Meanwhile
Congratulations to Bruno Fernandes who has now made 50 appearances for Manchester United!
🔴 50 Games
⚽️ 27 Goals
🎯 17 Assists
Key Opta Stats: Bruno in a slump?
- Fernandes has gone three Premier League games without a goal or assist for the first time since his United debut in February 2020.
- United have won seven Premier League games having gone behind this season – only Newcastle in 2001-02 (10) and Man Utd themselves in 2012-13 (nine) have done so more in a single campaign.
- This was the 41st different match in which Fulham had led in all competitions under Scott Parker, but the first time they had lost such a game (W34 D6).
- No side has conceded more goals in the opening five minutes of top-flight games this season than United (four).
- Cavani became the first Man Utd player whose first four Premier League goals for the club were all scored away from home.
- Since his return to the club in 2016, no Man Utd player has scored more league goals from outside the box than Pogba (six).
- Manchester United have won 94 Premier League matches after conceding the first goal, the most of any side in the competition’s history!
What’s next?
Both teams have FA Cup commitments this weekend, with United hosting Liverpool on Sunday and Fulham at home to Burnley earlier the same day.
