Whether it is to return to the summit or extend the gap on Manchester City, United know there can be no slip-up on Monday night against a Fulham side that has won only twice on the road in the league this season. The pressure of playing after City has not fazed the champions of late and, now the mind games have been declared officially open by Sir Alex Ferguson, he will have a very strong looking squad available with Phil Jones, Chris Smalling, Tom Cleverley, Paul Pogba and Fábio da Silva all featuring for the reserves in midweek. Andy Hunter

Venue Old Trafford, Monday 8pm

Tickets £28-50 (0161 868 8000)

Last season Manchester Utd 2 Fulham 0

Referee Michael Oliver

This season's matches 17 Y43, R4, 2.76 cards per game

Odds Manchester Utd 1-4 Fulham 14-1 Draw 5-1

Manchester United

Subs from Amos, Jones, Berbatov, Giggs, Smalling, Park, Young, F da Silva, Cleverley, Pogba, Keane, Fryers

Doubtful Cleverley (ankle), Jones (illness)

Injured Lindegaard (ankle, 2 Apr), Owen (thigh, 8 Apr), Anderson (hamstring, 22 Apr), Bébé (knee, Aug), Vidic (knee, Aug), Fletcher (bowel, unknown), Nani (ankle, unknown)

Suspended None

Form guide WWWWWD

Disciplinary record Y35 R1

Leading scorer Rooney 20

Fulham

Subs from Etheridge, Stockdale, Baird, Kasami, Murphy, Gecov, Duff, BH Riise, Hughes, Etuhu, Frei, Davies, Halliche

Doubtful None

Injured Sidwell (hernia, 14 Apr), Orlando Sá (hamstring, 21 Apr), Grygera (knee, Aug)

Suspended None

Form guide LLWWWL

Disciplinary record Y48 R0

Leading scorer Dempsey 12

Match pointers

• United have lost at home to Fulham only once since April 1963 – 3-1 in the top flight in October 2003

• Clint Dempsey has played the most Premier League games (176) and scored the most goals (44) for Fulham

• Ryan Giggs has been substituted 127 times, only five short of the Premier League record currently held by Nolberto Solano

• Martin Jol has never beaten United as a manager in the Premier League, losing his last five games against them

• United have scored the joint-most headed goals (14) in 2011-12, and nine different players have scored them