Arbeloa warns Fulham must hit Anfield levels to end long wait against Man United

Fulham head coach Alvaro Arbeloa has declared his side capable of beating Manchester United at Craven Cottage on Sunday, while acknowledging the scale of the task facing a team that has not defeated the Reds at home for several years.

Arbeloa, who played and managed Real Madrid before taking charge at Fulham, pointed to his side’s recent display at Anfield as the benchmark required. “We are still believing that we can beat them, if we do a very good match from the first minute,” he said. “We know that we have to play at our best level — same level that we saw at Anfield — and that’s our target.”

The Spaniard was candid about the quality in Michael Carrick’s squad, singling out Marcus Rashford, Matheus Cunha, Bruno Fernandes, and Youri Tielemans as players capable of deciding a game in an instant. “They have very talented and top players and, of course, they are Man United,” Arbeloa added. “Even doing that, we couldn’t beat Liverpool, we couldn’t beat Chelsea. In both games, we did really well. So we are facing one of the best teams in the world.”

Despite the praise, Arbeloa made clear that Fulham’s supporters deserve a result. “The last time that we beat them here at Craven Cottage was too many years ago, so we will give our best and try to give them a victory.”

The fixture arrives at a difficult moment for both clubs. Fulham are winless in the Premier League so far this season, while United sit 13th after four games — their joint-worst start to a top-flight campaign, equalling last season’s poor opening run under Ruben Amorim and the club’s 1992/93 campaign under Sir Alex Ferguson.

Carrick, who succeeded Amorim on an interim basis in January and guided United to a third-placed finish, was handed the permanent job in May. His tenure has already been tested by a defeat at Hull City, a home loss in the Manchester derby — despite United playing against 10 men for much of the match — and a League Cup collapse against Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday, when the side surrendered a two-goal lead at Old Trafford.

Sunday’s match at Craven Cottage is the final fixture before an extended international break, giving it added significance for both managers as they look to steady their respective campaigns.