Rise of a Football God

(Premier league results:)

(Matchday 22 of 38:)

(Newcastle 2-1 Bournemouth)

(Date: 18th January, 2025)

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(West Ham 1-1 Crystal Palace)

(Date: 18th January, 2025)

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(Brentford 1-3 Liverpool)

(Date: 18th January, 2025)

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(Leicester City 1-3 Fulham)

(Date: 18th January, 2025)

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(Arsenal 3-0 Aston Villa)

(Date: 18th January, 2025)

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(Nottm 0-0 Southampton)

(Date: 19th January, 2025)

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(Everton 3-4 Tottenham)

(Date: 19th January, 2025)

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(Man United 0-2 Brighton)

(Date: 19th January, 2025)

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(Ipswich Town 1-2 Man City)

(Date: 19th January, 2025)

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(Chelsea 3-2 Wolves)

(Date: 20th January, 2025)

…

(Updated premier league table standings:)

(1. Liverpool GP: 21/ W:16/ D:2/ L:2/ Pts: 54)

(2. Fulham GP: 22/ W:16/ D:4/ L:2/ Pts: 53)

(3. Chelsea GP: 22/ W:14/ D:6/ L:2/ Pts: 48)

(4. Arsenal GP: 22/ W:13/ D:7/ L:2/ Pts: 46)

(5. Man City GP: 22/ W:10/ D:6/ L:6/ Pts: 36)

(6. Aston Villa GP: 22/ W:10/ D:5/ L:8/ Pts: 35)

(7. Nottm Forest GP: 22/ W:9/ D:8/ L:5/ Pts: 35)

(8. Brighton GP: 22/ W:9/ D:7/ L:6/ Pts: 34)

(9. Newcastle GP: 22/ W:9/ D:7/ L:6/ Pts: 34)

(10. Bournemouth GP: 22/ W:9/ D:5/ L:8/ Pts: 32)

(11. Tottenham GP: 22/ W:10/ D:2/ L:10/ Pts: 32)

(12. Brentford GP: 22/ W:8/ D:4/ L:10/ Pts: 28)

(13. Man United GP: 22/ W:8/ D:4/ L:10/ Pts: 28)

(14. West Ham GP: 22/ W:7/ D:5/ L:10/ Pts: 25)

(15. Crystal Palace GP: 22/ W:4/ D:9/ L:9/ Pts: 21)

(16. Leicester GP: 22/ W:3/ D:8/ L:11/ Pts: 17)

(17. Everton GP: 21/ W:3/ D:5/ L:13/ Pts: 14)

(18. Ipswich Town GP: 22/ W:2/ D:8/ L:12/ Pts: 14)

(19. Wolves GP: 22/ W:1/ D:6/ L:15/ Pts: 9)

(20. Southampton GP: 22/ W:2/ D:2/ L:18/ Pts: 8)

After 22 matchdays of the English premier league, this was how the premier league table looked like.

Despite the predictions all around, it was not a full-blown crisis yet in Fulham.

Yes, they lost their game against West Ham. Yes, it was 3 important points lost. Yes, Liverpool was now top of the table with a game in hand but at the same time, Fulham was still 2nd in the premier league table.

They were still within touching distance of the summit of the premier league table and to the Fulham fans, this meant everything.

After the game against Leicester City away from home, the Fulham players got a triumphant welcome back to Fulham as their fans celebrated their victory exuberantly like they already won a trophy.

Despite the celebrations though, the Fulham players did not let it get to their head, this was because they knew that there was a bigger challenge ahead.

Yes, it was a home game.

Yes, last time out they were able to beat the Red Devils in their home turf in Old Trafford but in that game, a certain Samuel Moses was on the pitch.

The Fulham players did not relish the knowledge that they would be clashing against the Kings of Manchester without their talismanic attacking midfielder, but they were not delusional.

They were elite professional football players; they knew not to complain in adversity but to work with what they had. With this mentality, they trained hard, approaching the game with optimism.

Like that, the days moved like the rolling pages of a book and in no time, it was already time for matchday 23 of the English premier league.

The first games of the matchday were played on 25th but Fulham's clash against Manchester United was left for last on 26th January.

(Premier league:)

(Matchday 23 of 38:)

(Brighton 2-0 Everton)

(Date: 25th January, 2025)

…

(Liverpool 2-0 Ipswich Town)

(Date: 25th January, 2025)

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(Southampton 1-0 Newcastle)

(Date: 25th January, 2025)

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(Wolves 0-4 Arsenal)

(Date: 25th January, 2025)

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(Bournemouth 1-3 Nottm Forest)

(Date: 25th January, 2025)

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(Man City 1-3 Chelsea)

(Date: 25th January, 2025)

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(Tottenham 2-1 Leicester City)

(Date: 26th January, 2025)

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(Crystal Palace 0-1 Brentford)

(Date: 26th January, 2025)

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(Aston Villa 1-1 West Ham)

(Date: 26th January, 2025)

…

(Fulham – Man United)

(Date: 26th January, 2025)

With another impressive Liverpool win against Ipswich Town, all of a sudden in the build up to the Manchester game, the pressure was on Fulham as the Merseysiders now led by 4 points with a game in hand.

If they didn't want to be left behind by a rampant Liverpool, Fulham needed to get a result against Manchester United.

The Fulham players approached the game with this mindset.

But they were not the only ones who approached this game with the mindset to win, the Manchester United players did the same thing.

Unlike Fulham's impressive season so far, Manchester United was having an absolute disaster of a season. Having amassed only 28 points in 22 games, they were in mid-table 13th position in the league.

A lot of the Manchester United star players were currently under fire, including the new coach, Ruben Amorim. They were desperate to get a good result.

All of this added even more spice to this game.

In the build-up to the game, the media dubbed it the clash of the new Dogs vs the aging Leviathan, a battle of London vs Manchester.

When the Man United players entered Craven Cottage, they were welcomed by the hostile atmosphere that was created by the home supporters.

It was incredibly toxic but that was football.

The Fulham fans were ready to do anything to help their team win.

And like expected, both teams started with their strongest lineups.

Fulham started with a similar lineup that they used to demolish Leicester City, the only difference being that Castagne finally returned to the starting XI as the right back of the team after minor injury issues.

As for Manchester United, it was still a much more fearsome and star-studded lineup of players on paper.

Starting in a 3-4-2-1 formation, Andre Onana, the Cameroonian started in between the posts while the 3-man defense in front of him comprised the trio of Mazraoui, Harry Maguire, and Lisandro Martinez.

The 4-man midfield comprised of Diogo Dalot and Tyrell Malacia playing as high inverted fullbacks, then Manuel Ugarte, and Kobbie Mainoo, the young prodigy.

The attack comprised of Amad Diallo, Bruno Fernandes, and Joshua Zirkzee who started as the striker.

FWEEEE!

As soon as the referee's whistle sounded, the clash between heavyweights of London vs Manchester started.