BBC Radio 5 Live

Don't forget to click on the audio icon at the top of the page to enjoy BBC Radio 5 Live commentary direct from Craven Cottage as Fulham host Manchester United.

Former Fulham goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer is joining Ali Bruce-Ball on the mike as you might have detected from the previous-but-one entry.

Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton boss Roberto de Zerbi to BBC Sport: "I think we speak always about fair play in the Premier League. I didn't see [that] today. It's the work of the referee, not my work [to deal with time-wasting]. My job is to train my players and prepare them for the game."

On the penalty they did not get: "I have one idea, one opinion but I don't want to speak about this. I say to watch again the first penalty for them and the second for March and you can understand everything.

"We lost Lallana, for us a very important player. The goal for 1-1 was a mistake between Estupinan, Colwill and Dunk. I'm sorry to lose this game. We didn't deserve it."

On his spell so far: "Very positive time. We start again in December with energy and positive mentality."

Mark Schwarzer
Former Middlesbrough & Fulham keeper on BBC Radio 5 Live

Fulham have done an incredible job so far, let's just hope it continues.

Image source, Getty Images

Fulham have won just two of their past 25 Premier League games against Manchester United (D5 L18) - and are winless in 13 against the Red Devils since picking up back-to-back victories in 2009.

United have won their past five Premier League away games against Fulham - and lost only one of their last 18 league matches against promoted teams. That loss was against Watford in 2021 in Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's final game as United manager.

Nedum Onuoha
Former Manchester City defender on BBC 5 Live

For Ten Hag, he’s made it clear this is what he wants from the players. These are the players he has right now so he’s finding a mix of what he wants those players to do according to their strengths as well. They see their jobs, they get it, they understand it and they can do it well.

You can be rewarded by playing the next game if you do the job that the manager asks of you. Ten Hag seems like a very good coach, he’s very stern and I like that because it means he is respected.

People can say what they like but he’s the boss, he’s the man in charge and I think that for some that maybe underestimate Man United, through our lifetimes, you think about when Man United were most successful and they had Sir Alex Ferguson there.

For as much as he could have been really nice to his players and people say what a good man manager he was, that’s when we’re hearing about the hairdryer treatment and so on. For those players they respected their manager because they had to and they understood that things ran through him. There’s a sense that that is what ten Hag is trying to build and I’d say that’s ultimately where he has been successful over the last few years.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Craven Cottage

Image source, BBC Sport

It is Remembrance Sunday and both clubs will be paying their respects before the game.

In the matchday programme, Fulham owner Shahid Khan described what would be happening prior to kick-off and said: “Today’s fixture is our annual remembrance match where we honour and pay tribute to fallen servicemen and women.

“There will be a period of silence after the Last Post is performed by Steven Fletcher ahead of kick-off, and soldiers from the 17 Company Coldstream Guards of the 1st Battalion London Guards will join players, staff and officials on the pitch to pay respect to the memory of those whose dedication resulted in making the ultimate sacrifice.

“Fulham also wishes to salute the men and women currently in service to their country, as their bravery and commitment to our freedoms and values must never be taken for granted.”

Image source, BBC Sport

Brighton & Hove Albion

Brighton goalscorer Alexis Mac Allister to Sky Sports: "Disappointed. We're not happy with the result or the second half. We can play better. We made a few mistakes.

"Our idea is clear - we try to build up from the back. We have to take the responsibility."

On the move that led to their goal: "We spoke about that situation. We knew Martinez plays a triangle wth Mings. We spoke about being aggressive. We worked on it during the week. I was happy I could score.

"In the second half there was no game. They wasted time. The referee let them waste time. We didn't play as much as we wanted to. That's the way they want to play football."

On whether Solly March should have had a penalty: "We asked him and he said it was a penalty. I didn't realise on the pitch if it was or not. We'll watch it again and see if it was or wasn't."

On their form: "It's still a good record. Maybe we'd like to have won a few more games because we deserve it. But we're happy. This league is the hardest in the world. We'll keep working after the World Cup."

Coming into this weekend's games, only the top three of Arsenal, Manchester City and Newcastle have kept more Premier League clean sheets than Manchester United this season (5).

But the Red Devils have conceded 19 goals, the most of any side in the top eight at the start of the weekend.

When the wheels fall off at the back for United, they do so spectacularly.

Image source, Reuters

Erik ten Hag says Anthony Martial is “definitely” the best finisher at Manchester United and is delighted to have the France forward fit again.

The 26-year-old marked his comeback with a goal against Aston Villa in the Carabao Cup on Thursday and Ten Hag feels his fitness could be pivotal to United’s success this season.

Asked if Martial is the best finisher he has, Ten Hag replied: "Definitely. I like a player like Anthony. He can hold the ball, he is a target, he can run behind, he can finish and he is a good presser.

“He plays very well in a lot of aspects of football and I am happy with that. I’m happy with everything except his availability.”

Martial has only made six appearances this season - scoring four goals - but has been sidelined by issues with his hamstring, his Achilles and most recently his back. Keeping him fit is a conundrum, but one Ten Hag is keen to solve.

“Of course we analyse that, he is analysing it but what can we do to change it?” he said. “We made some measures to do that.

“When you are that often into injuries and illnesses there is a reason and we have to find out but sometimes it is also bad luck. I am happy he is back and he will manage it and stay fit. He is an important part of the squad.”

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Fulham have already earned more points (12), won more games (3), and scored more goals (13) at Craven Cottage this season than they did in the entirety of their last Premier League campaign (10 points, 2 wins, 9 goals).

The Cottagers have also scored more goals from crosses than any other side in the Premier League this season (9), with striker Aleksandar Mitrovic having more headed shots than any other player so far this term (21).

Mitrovic won't be adding to that tally today, of course - the striker is out with a foot injury that has left Serbia sweating on his World Cup availability.

Bruno Fernandes is making his 100th Premier League appearance for Manchester United today.

He has 38 goals and 26 assists (64 total involvements) in his 99 games so far, with only three players involved in more goals in their first 100 for United in the Premier League.

Eric Cantona (84), Ruud van Nistelrooy (78) and Dwight Yorke (66, in 96 games) are that holy trinity so Fernandes is in pretty good company.

Image source, Getty Images

Bastian Schweinsteiger
Former Manchester United and Germany midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

It’s different if you are a coach of Ajax in Amsterdam or Manchester United, it’s two different worlds. Erik ten Hag has an ideal, his way of football which he did very well at Ajax. Under him they played fantastically in the Champions League with not the biggest names or stars in Europe and he was very successful there.

That’s why United signed him, to get his ideal of football to Manchester United. As you see, it’s still a work in progress, it’s not like you can say later on they will win 3-1 or 4-1 against Fulham. You cannot expect that. It will be tough. But obviously you need to give him a little bit of time to get his way of football.

Nedum Onuoha
Former Manchester City defender on BBC 5 Live

When Ten Hag was at Ajax, there’s winning and then there’s the way in which teams do win because it’s not just because they have better players.

For him, he will set the culture, he will set the way that the team is going to train, make sure the players know exactly what their roles are when they go out and play on a weekend. That provides you with a foundation to be good.

For me, I always found as a player, the worst thing you could have is when you walk out on the field and you don’t know what you’re supposed to do, you don’t know what the people around you are going to do.

So then when things are going well, it’s great because it masks a lot of things but when things start going badly, you don’t know how to address the situation.

Both sides have demons to banish this afternoon at Craven Cottage.

Fulham will be bidding to erase their most recent Manchester memory - last weekend's last-gasp 2-1 defeat by City at Etihad Stadium when the champions were down to 10 men for three-quarters of the game.

While Manchester United will be looking for a drastic improvement on their previous away game, the 3-1 defeat at Aston Villa seven days ago.

Image source, BBC Sport

I actually think Erik ten Hag should be happy with his first few months of work at Old Trafford but we saw last week when they lost at Aston Villa that he has not solved all his problems, and it feels to me like they are a team who needs the World Cup break to regroup and to go again.

Ten Hag has made a few baffling decisions of late - using Harry Maguire as a striker against Real Sociedad and then making Cristiano Ronaldo captain against Villa.

His side have lost three games on the road already this season and I think they will come a cropper at Craven Cottage too.

I wouldn't say I was disappointed by the way Fulham played against Manchester City's 10 men for an hour last weekend, but they didn't seem to have any belief they would win at Etihad Stadium.

Things should be different on their own patch and I think they will spring one final shock before the season stops.

Sutton's prediction: 2-1

Aston Villa

Aston Villa matchwinner Danny Ings told Sky Sports: "As a team we were excellent today. We know how good a team they are.

"Our grit and deterination got us over the line.

"It's never easy conceding so early but it woke us up. From that moment on we created a lot of chances.

"They were pushing and pushing. It was so difficult. We can to rely on our defensive shape.

"You can see the confidence growing in the team now. [Unai Emery has made] A lot [of difference]. He's only been with us a short time but we've come a long way already. We'll have a break now and try to implement as much as he wants to install with us."

Steve Sidwell
Former Villa and Brighton midfielder on BBC Radio 5 Live

Huge celebrations from Aston Villa on the bench, just like the fans. Fully deserved as well., they showed so much personality and character, especially from a defensive point of view. Two goals from Danny Ings, he worked his socks off.

Brighton had plenty of chances, plenty of the ball. Could they have got a bit more with a bit more quality? Huge result there from Aston Villa, really good away performance.

Michael Emons
BBC Sport at Craven Cottage

Image source, BBC Sport

This afternoon's game at Craven Cottage is the last one in the Premier League before the break for the World Cup in Qatar, with the league paused for six weeks and not resuming until 26 December.

There will be a lot of players in action today desperately hoping they don't pick up an injury that could rule them out of the tournament.

Only Manchester City (16) have more Premier League players named in squads for Qatar than Manchester United's 14 - Lisandro Martinez (Argentina), Antony, Casemiro, Fred (Brazil), Christian Eriksen (Denmark), Harry Maguire, Marcus Rashford, Luke Shaw (England), Raphael Varane (France), Tyrell Malacia (Netherlands), Diogo Dalot, Bruno Fernandes, Cristiano Ronaldo (Portugal) and Facundo Pellistri (Uruguay).

Meanwhile, Fulham have six players Qatar-bound - Joao Palhinha (Portugal), Aleksandar Mitrovic (Serbia), Tim Ream, Antonee Robinson (USA), Daniel James and Harry Wilson (both Wales).

However, United boss Erik ten Hag says his team selection won't see him protecting those selected for the World Cup, which starts one week today with players meeting up with their countries from tomorrow.

"The players are all aware of the importance of the game against Fulham," said the Dutchman. "I will not take the World Cup in regard, we will play the best team.

"Until Sunday it is the interest of Manchester United and only Manchester United. We have to do everything in our power to get the right result."

Image source, Reuters

Marco Silva expected Fulham's strong start to the Premier League because of the platform laid during their title-winning Championship campaign.

The Cottagers won promotion in style last season and have carried their momentum into the new campaign, sitting ninth after 14 games and only two points off the top six.

"I'm not surprised - I know what we are capable of," he said. "We said from the first day that we wanted to be really competitive and that's what we are doing."

Silva stressed the team "trust in themselves" and have established a clear philosophy at Craven Cottage.

One of the players who has stepped up for Fulham is former Manchester United midfielder Andreas Pereira and Silva believes he can offer more as he prepares to face his old employers.

"He's performing well and adapted really well in our squad," said Silva. "What I expect from him is even more because I know he has the quality to do more things."

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Well, that wasn't a bad Sunday starter, was it?

Let's hope our second game serves up as much entertainment - so let's switch focus to Manchester United's trip to Fulham.