On a saturated, icy Wednesday night in west London, Manchester United came from behind to win a fierce 2-1 battle against an impressive, resilient Fulham team.
The result puts United at the top of the Premier League series, stretching up to 17 games away from their unbeaten run, equaling the all-time record. Best of all, it came thanks to a moment of the highest quality from Paul Pogba, who was a quiet majestic presence in midfield.
It always seemed a tighter test for the visitors than the table suggests. With a mist of heavy rain in January falling over the skeleton of the new site, United were forced to dig deep into their own reserves against well-organized opponents.
“We needed the victory and got it the hard way,” Pogba said afterwards. Although there was only a sweetness in his winning goal, just after the hour mark, a shot from the cuff spell, from a moment on the right that pulled a bass startled from the United bench.
Ole Gunnar Solskjær sent a team that looked ready to play, with almost a full group to choose from, an injury-free run that was part of the team’s mid-season boom. In his first season, Solskjær talked a lot about the need for extreme physical conditioning. All of these United regulars look fierce, combative.
Edinson Cavani and Mason Greenwood start in attack, and Pogba falls in deep midfield, a progressive move in the absence of grimmer Scott McTominay. Fulham started with the icy wind at the back. They look hungry from hunger. Ademola Lookman had an early shot from 25 yards out, and then stunned the empty stands with the starting goal at five minutes.
It took a single long pass from the impressive André-Frank Zambo Anguissa to cut United open. Lookman finished brilliantly and struck off all alone on the right side of the area before hitting a low hard shot into the far corner. Solskjær will wonder about the time and space to play the pass. But his team immediately pushed back, and Pogba moved the ball nicely through midfield.
First, Bruno Fernandes hits a shot at the foot of the post from outside the box. Moments later he shoots from the left, the ball is caught by Alphonse Areola and Cavani, who is hiding in the right place, finishes neatly. Cavani celebrated with a shout. That was his first goal after the ban.
Pogba kept the game in the spot in that first half. Before the kick-off, United’s star midfielder wandered around his teammates and gave encouragement. Here he initially passed in a bad way, but he showed such calmness and craftsmanship on the ball that it seemed as if he had spread through the red shirts.
Aaron Wan-Bissaka passed right off the field a few times and crossed Anthony Martial to put in just half an hour ahead. By this time, the game had settled into the predictable press of red possession. But the center of Fulham was an aggressive, hard-pressing obstacle, with Lookman always busy at half-time.
Fulham were also bright at the start of the second half, and Harrison Reed fired powerfully over the bar after still good work from Lookman. United sometimes saw a cautious team as they hit the ball, with Harry Maguire and Eric Bailly standing 20 yards behind the red line in front of them, and rarely acting to move the midfield forward.
Loftus-Cheek showed some nice touches on the right side and picked up Lookman for a shot that comfortably saved David de Gea. Pogba yielded one beautiful beaten deep cross. And in the 64th minute, the game was tied at 1-1, while Fulham still showed true discipline in midfield.
At that point, Pogba enters, pulling the ball out of the air on the right flank, wandering inward, seeing the space in front of him and tilting a wonderful curling shot inside the far post. The ball created a thrilling excitement as it left Pogba’s trunk, and a slap as he bulged the net. At the center, this season could honestly be any of these teams at the top. But it was a piece of championing skill.
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Fulham pressed hard and shortly afterwards had a chance to equalize. Loftus-Cheek sees to it that his low shots are well saved by De Gea. Another good drive created the chance that he was blazing miles across the bar.
At death, United were grateful for a fine rescue challenge from Wan-Bissaka. It was a win for perseverance on a miserable night, and for the deeper gears provided by a stronger midfielder, who is increasingly impressive.