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The first fixture of the 2024/25 Premier League season takes place on Friday night as Manchester United begin their bid to improve on last term’s finish of eighth when they host Fulham at Old Trafford.
The Red Devils salvaged their campaign with victory in the FA Cup as Erik ten Hag kept his job following a review from the club’s new co-owners. Additions like Matthijs de Ligt, Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee show United mean business, but first they must beat a Cottagers side that won this fixture in 2023/24.
Marco Silva has finally lost key midfielder Joao Palhinha to Bayern Munich while defenders Tosin Adarabioyo and Tim Ream have also departed, but the arrival of Emile Smith Rowe should add greater quality to Fulham’s attack this season.
Here’s 90min’s preview of the first Premier League game of the season.
Man Utd vs Fulham H2H Record (Last Five Games)
Current form (all competitions)
|
Man Utd |
Fulham |
|---|---|
|
Man City 1-1 Man Utd (7-6p) – 10/08/24 |
Hoffenheim 0-2 Fulham – 10/08/24 |
|
Man Utd 0-3 Liverpool – 04/08/24 |
Fulham 1-2 Sevilla – 05/08/24 |
|
Man Utd 3-2 Real Betis – 01/08/24 |
Benfica 0-1 Fulham – 02/08/24 |
|
Arsenal 2-1 Man Utd (3-4p) – 28/07/24 |
Fulham 6-1 Watford – 27/07/24 |
|
Rangers 0-2 Man Utd – 20/07/24 |
Fulham 4-0 Queens Park Rangers – 24/07/24 |
|
Country |
TV channel/live stream |
|---|---|
|
United Kingdom |
Sky Go UK, NOW, SKY GO Extra, Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Premier League, Sky Ultra HD |
|
United States |
fuboTV, nbcsports.com, NBC Sports App, UNIVERSO NOW, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, USA Network, UNIVERSO |
|
Canada |
fuboTV Canada |
Summer signing Yoro looked impressive during his first appearances for United in pre-season. However, the teenage Frenchman was quickly downed by a foot injury and is facing a couple of weeks out on the sidelines.
New arrivals De Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui could be thrown straight into the starting XI after their signings from Bayern were confirmed.
Striker Rasmus Hojlund won’t be fit until after the September international break, while Tyrell Malacia’s prolonged absence continues. There are further fitness worries over Luke Shaw, Harry Maguire and Victor Lindelof.
Man Utd predicted lineup vs Fulham (4-2-3-1): Onana; Dalot, De Ligt, Martinez, Mazraoui; Casemiro, Mainoo; Garnacho, Mount, Rashford; Fernandes.
Fulham have no injury worries but their expected starting XI does have some notable absentees from last season. Palhinha is now at Bayern, while centre-backs Tim Ream and Tosin Adarabioyo have also departed.
However, new signing Emile Smith Rowe is likely to come straight into manager Silva’s team behind striker Rodrigo Muniz, who enjoyed a sparkling second half of the 2023/24 campaign.
Fulham predicted lineup vs Man Utd (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Reed, Lukic; Traore, Smith Rowe, Iwobi; Muniz.
United are having to deal with more injury worries heading into a new term but have been proactive in the transfer window and shouldn’t be reduced to their bare bones like they were at points during 2023/24.
The Red Devils had a mixed pre-season but were threatening in patches against Manchester City in the Community Shield and should be able to take advantage of a difficult summer of transition for Fulham by claiming victory on the opening night of the campaign.