Manchester United will face Fulham tonight in their opening match of the new Premier League season. The Red Devils will be looking to bounce back from their penalty shootout defeat in the Community Shield and start the season on a positive note. This match also marks the beginning of a new era for United under the leadership of Sir Jim Ratcliffe, who has implemented major changes to the club. With new signings Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee, as well as potential additions Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, United fans are hopeful that the fresh faces can bring a new energy to the team after a disappointing eighth-place finish last season.
On the other hand, Fulham will be aiming to build on their 13th-place finish from last season. They will be without star player Joao Palhinha, who recently joined Bayern Munich, but have acquired Emile Smith Rowe from Arsenal for £34m. Fulham have also added central defender Jorge Cuenca and welcomed back academy graduate Ryan Sessegnon from Tottenham. Both teams will be eager to make a strong impression in their first Premier League match of the season.
In terms of form, Manchester United have had a mixed pre-season, with wins over Rangers and Real Betis, but also a shock defeat to Rosenborg and losses to Liverpool and Arsenal. Their closely contested match against Manchester City in the Community Shield is seen as a good indicator of their form. Fulham, on the other hand, have looked strong in pre-season, with only one defeat to Sevilla and victories over Hoffenheim and Benfica.
Injury-wise, Manchester United will be without Leny Yoro and Rasmus Hojlund, who are both recovering from injuries sustained during pre-season. New signing Joshua Zirkzee is yet to make his debut for the club, while Luke Shaw and Victor Lindelof are expected to feature despite recent injury concerns. Fulham, on the other hand, have no injury issues heading into the match.
Star players to watch out for include Bruno Fernandes for Manchester United, who is expected to lead the team from the front and play a key role in tonight’s match. Emile Smith Rowe, who impressed during Fulham’s pre-season preparations, will be a player to keep an eye on as well.
In terms of what the managers have said, Erik ten Hag is taking the positives from the Community Shield defeat and believes his team can achieve something special this season. Marco Silva, on the other hand, feels that their pre-season tour of Europe has helped the team bond and prepare for the challenges ahead in the Premier League.
In terms of predictions, Fulham have looked strong in pre-season, but facing a passionate crowd at Old Trafford and a rejuvenated Manchester United team could be a tough challenge. A close match is expected, with Manchester United emerging as the victors with a 2-1 scoreline.
The match will take place tonight at Old Trafford, with kick-off at 8pm BST. It will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Main Event, and can also be streamed through the NOW app/website for Sky Sports customers. Alternatively, you can follow SunSport’s live blog for updates on the match.