Michael Carrick can be proud as Man Utd's three straight wins are no coincidence

Manchester United continues to show a positive trend in the pursuit of Champions League qualification. Hosting Fulham at Old Trafford on Sunday, January 1, 2026, local time, The Red Devils' squad secured a narrow yet crucial 3-2 victory. This result completes their impressive record since being coached by Michael Carrick, following consecutive wins against giants like Manchester City and Arsenal.

The match began with high intensity. United immediately took attacking initiative and reaped rewards in the 19th minute. From a set-piece scheme, Bruno Fernandes delivered an accurate free-kick met by Casemiro's powerful header. The 1-0 advantage held until halftime, despite Fulham attempting counter-attacks through rapid transitions.

Entering the second half, the game opened up. Fulham threatened seriously through Harry Wilson, but young Goalkeeper Senne Lammens remained alert under the crossbar. United extended their lead in the 56th minute when Casemiro's brilliant through ball was converted via Matheus Cunha's fierce strike.

VAR, Penalty, and the Visitors' Revival

However, the real drama unfolded late in the match. Fulham scored through Jorge Cuenca, but VAR disallowed it for offside. The visitors' hopes revived in the 85th minute after Harry Maguire was penalized for fouling Raul Jimenez in the box. Jimenez stepped up as executor, reducing the deficit to 2-1.

During injury time, Old Trafford fell silent when Kevin's speculative long-range strike beat Lammens in the 90+1st minute. A 2-2 draw seemed inevitable.

Benjamin Sesko: The Match-Winner

Under maximum pressure, Manchester United demonstrated why they're called comeback kings. In the 90+4th minute, Benjamin Sesko emerged as the hero. Capitalizing on a goalmouth scramble, the young striker fired home to secure all three points for Manchester.

This victory propelled United back into the Premier League's top four with 41 points from 24 matches. Meanwhile, Fulham dropped to eighth place after failing to maintain momentum during crucial minutes.