Manchester United v Fulham: FA Cup quarter-final – live | FA Cup

7 min Actually, Rashford is now playing on the right, with Sancho left. Bit weird. I’m sure they started the other way round.

5 min It’s been a really good start from Fulham, aggressive and purposeful. United have hardly crossed the halfway line.

3 min Fulham appeal unsuccessfully for a penalty when Mitrovic, in mid-air and about to head the ball towards goal, is eased aside by Shaw. We haven’t seen a replay but apparently VAR isn’t getting involved. My instinct is that the contact wasn’t strong enough for a penalty.

3 min Fulham regain possession and Diop, still up from the corner, loops a header that is pushed over the backpedalling de Gea. A comfortable save.

2 min Pereira’s dangerous cross towards Mitrovic is put behind by McTominay. Pereira takes the corner, and the abundant noggin of Harry Maguire deals with it.

1 min Tacticswatch: United have started with Bruno Fernandes as the No10 and Jadon Sancho on the right. Everything else is as expected.

1 min Peep peep! Andreas Pereira, once of United, gets things going. Fulham are kicking from right to left as we watch.

The winners of today’s game will play Brighton in the semi-final, and the winners of that game will play Manchester City in the final.

“As the match is on what used to be known as terrestrial TV I can watch Fulham go down to, I hope, honourable defeat,” says Richard Hirst. “Equally pertinently, I can test out whether the MBM coverage is as accurate and unbiased as I assume – no pressure!”

Who told you that goddamn lie?

A reminder of the teams, who are about to wander onto the field.

Man Utd (possible 4-2-3-1) De Gea; Wan-Bissaka, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; McTominay, Sabitzer; Fernandes, Sancho, Rashford; Weghorst.
Substitutes: Butland, Dalot, Lindelof, Malacia, Fred, Mainoo, Pellistri, Antony, Elanga.

Fulham (4-2-3-1) Leno; Tete, Diop, Ream, Robinson; Palhinha, Reed; De Cordova-Reid, Pereira, Willian; Mitrovic.
Substitutes: Rodak, Tosin, Cedric, Lukic, Wilson, Cairney, Solomon, James, Vinicius.

Referee Chris Kavanagh.

And if you’re a Manchester United fan, why haven’t you subscribed to United Writing? Eh?

The semi-final draw is about to take place, with the draw for the final to follow. Join Daniel Harris to find out who the winner of today’s game will be playing at Wembley next month.

“Welcome Rob,” says Jeff Sax. “Will we see the Man Utd from the Liverpool game or a winning MU?”

Jeffrey, if I knew that, I’d be in a beer garden, on a betting app.

With Raphael Varane injured, Harry Maguire starts again today. And like just about every player at Old Trafford, he has improved under Erik ten Hag.

While we’re talking about Grimsby, I had great fun this week researching their runs to the FA Cup semi-final in 1936 and 1939. If you like kooky details from the distant past, you’ll enjoy it.

I also learned about Tom Zerboni, a dynamic teenage left-back who is the nephew of an old university friend. When he makes his debut for England (or Italy), hopefully I’ll get an exclusive interview.

The semi-final line-up

The winners of this game will join Manchester City, Sheffield United and Brighton in the last four. Brighton are cruising to victory over Grimsby at the Amex, where the seriously impressive Evan Ferguson has scored twice.

Team news

Preamble