Manchester United open Premier League season against Fulham at Old Trafford
Manchester United kick off the new Premier League season on Friday 16 August at home against Fulham at Old Trafford, with kick-off at 20:00 (GMT+1). After a disappointing eighth-place finish last season, Erik ten Hag is hoping to set the right tone immediately with a win over the Cottagers.
United want to wash away the bitter taste of the Community Shield
Last weekend's Community Shield left a sour taste in Erik ten Hag's mouth. Manchester United drew 1-1 with Manchester City, with Marcus Rashford squandering several big chances. Goalkeeper André Onana demonstrated his promised high-risk playing style in the subsequent penalty shootout, but that too ultimately came to nothing. The defeat prompted the club to accelerate their transfer activity: Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui were signed from Bayern München for £43 million and £17 million respectively. Both players could potentially feature against Fulham, provided they are officially registered before Thursday afternoon. In terms of the line-up, Marcus Rashford is expected to lead the attack in a 4-2-3-1 system. Rasmus Højlund remains unavailable due to a hamstring injury. Statistically speaking, the fixture offers encouraging signs for the home side: across 34 Premier League meetings, United have lost just four times to Fulham, with 24 wins and 6 draws. However, there is a notable recent trend: the last four encounters between the two clubs have each been won by the away side.
Fulham looking to make an immediate statement after 13th-place finish
Fulham travel to Old Trafford with plenty of ambition. The Cottagers finished in a disappointing 13th place last season and were eager to make a statement in pre-season. Marco Silva's side claimed victories over Hoffenheim (2-0) and Benfica (1-0) during pre-season, though they also suffered a 2-1 defeat against Sevilla at the Estádio Algarve in Portugal. It has been a busy summer in the transfer market for Fulham. João Palhinha departed for Bayern München for €51 million following an excellent European Championship. Defender Tosin Adarabioyo made the move to Chelsea, while forward Willian left as a free agent. On the incoming side, Emile Smith Rowe was signed from Arsenal for €32 million. Silva is counting on the new arrival as he seeks points in Manchester. Rodrigo Muniz is expected to lead the line in a 4-2-3-1 formation.
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Source: Sportmonks
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