- Manchester United won a slim victory after Lisandro Martínez's goal
- Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee delivered disappointing performances
- Listen now: It's all starting! Why Arsenal players will laugh at Mikel Arteta behind his back
Rasmus Hojlund and Joshua Zirkzee's struggles during Manchester United's 1-0 win over Fulham have been laid bare by a series of damning statistics.
United secured a slim victory at Craven Cottage last night after Lisandro Martinez's deflected strike, moving them four points off the top half of the table.
But Ruben Amorim's side again delivered a forceful display in front of goal with Hojlund and Zirkzee, the club's two No 9s, failing to test Fulham goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
In fact, United like all recorded just one shot on target, and four shots in total, over the full 90 minutes, while completing fewer passes than the hosts.
Hojlund was given the nod from the switch, but could not muster an effort on goal. He got just 17 touches of the ball, with one of them inside the Fulham area.
And after completing just six of his eight passes, the Dane was surprisingly hooked by an unimpressed Amorim just shy of the hour mark.
Rasmus Hojlund delivered a calm display in Manchester United's 1-0 win over Fulham
Joshua Zirkzee, brought on in the second half, recorded zero shots on target at Craven Cottage
Lisandro Martínez's deflected attack moved United within four points of the top half of the table
Remarkably, Hojlund has now failed to score in 36 of his 48 Premier League games for United since joining Atalanta in a deal worth £72m.
Hojlund was replaced by Zirkzee, a £36.5m summer signing under Erik Ten Hag.
Zirkzee has similarly failed to hit the ground running at Old Trafford, having scored just three league goals, and also recorded zero shots at Craven Cottage.
However, unlike Hojlund, Zirkzee did not get a single touch in the Fulham box. He also managed just five passes the entire game during a disappointing second-half cameo.
But, speaking on TNT Sports, Rio Ferdinand singled out Hojlund for criticism and suggested his teammates would have been angry at his failure to hold the ball.
“I'd be surprised if Hojlund doesn't point some fingers at him,” Ferdinand said. 'Hold the ball. Hojlund is the platform for them to get on the pitch.
“Manchester United can't get any good possession around the final third when their number nine can't hold the ball.”
Hojlund and Zirkzee's goal scoring problems have led to suggestions that Marcus Rashford could be brought in from the cold.
Hojlund also missed a shot on goal and took a touch inside the Fulham penalty area
Zirkzee has similarly failed to hit the ground running since arriving at Old Trafford
Ruben Amorim has avoided criticizing the two strikers despite their forceful performances
Rashford has not featured in the last 11 games and has so far failed to secure a loan move this month despite holding talks with several interested clubs.
But Amorim remains adamant the striker is not yet available and last night United's head coach claimed he would prefer to select his 63-year-old goalkeeping coach.
“It's always the same reason: training, the way I see a footballer should do in life,” Amorim said. 'It's every day, every detail.
'If things don't change, I won't change. It is the same situation for each player, if you do the maximum and right, we can use each player.
“You can see on the bench that we lose a little rhythm on the bench, but it would be vital against a player who doesn't give his all every day.”
Asked if the situation will change if Rashford is still at United after deadline day next week, Amorim added: 'It's the same situation for every player. If you do the maximum, if you do the right things, we can use every player.”
