The 2024-25 Premier League season kicks off under the bright lights of Old Trafford on Friday night as Manchester United take on Fulham. The "Theatre of Dreams" hosts this highly anticipated opener, with United looking to rebound after a challenging year both on and off the pitch.
In their last meeting, Fulham won 2-1 over Manchester United. Alex Iwobi's last-gasp winner gave Fulham their first win at Old Trafford in 21 years, ending United's four-game winning streak over the Cottagers.
For the 10th time in 11 seasons, Manchester United starts their league campaign at home, setting a new Premier League record. Fulham's visit marks their eighth consecutive home opener. The pressure is already mounting on Erik ten Hag and his team to deliver.
Despite starting the season with a narrow loss in the Community Shield to Manchester City, optimism remains high at Old Trafford as Manchester United kick off their Premier League campaign. The arrival of Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich this week adds further depth to a squad already familiar with Erik ten Hag's philosophy, thanks to their shared history at Ajax.
Last season was a mixed bag for United. Despite a tough time in the league and Europe, they managed to lift the FA Cup by beating their neighbor Manchester City. However, the joy was short-lived as City reversed the FA Community Shield result, narrowly defeating United on penalties after a 1-1 draw.
The Red Devils endured a challenging 2023/24 season, recording 14 league defeats-their highest tally since 1989/90-including a surprising 2-1 loss at Old Trafford to their opening-day opponents, Fulham. That defeat ended an 18-match unbeaten run against the Cottagers (15-3-0).
Erik ten Hag, who faced intense speculation about his future amid behind-the-scenes maneuvering by United's new ambitious owners, remains at the helm. He's joined this season by returning hero Ruud van Nistelrooy in the dugout and new signings Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, who bolster a defense hampered by injuries.
Pre-season results were inconsistent for the Red Devils, with three defeats from five matches, including a 3-0 loss to Liverpool in the USA, raising some concerns. However, the 20-time English champions are now focused on getting off to a strong start in the league.
Last season, United suffered six home defeats in 19 top-flight matches, including one to Fulham in February - a rare loss in a fixture where they had previously won 24 of their 33 Premier League meetings.
United's defensive woes continue with the new signing of Leny Yoro, who has been sidelined for several months due to a pre-season injury. Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia, and Victor Lindelof are also unavailable. Harry Maguire is not yet at full fitness, leaving Ten Hag with a defensive headache.
Offensively, last season's joint-top scorer Rasmus Hojlund is injured, leaving a gap up front. Potential strike partner Joshua Zirkzee might start, though Jadon Sancho or captain Bruno Fernandes could also fill in as a false nine.
Fulham's 2-1 victory at Old Trafford earlier this year was a significant milestone, and they now aim to secure consecutive away wins against United for the first time in history.
Indeed, Fulham's success at Old Trafford last season was their first since October 2003, and it contributed to another solid mid-table finish in their second season back in the top flight. However, Marco Silva's squad has seen significant changes over the summer, with the departures of experienced captain Tim Ream and midfield enforcer João Palhinha. The arrival of Emile Smith Rowe from Arsenal has, however, sparked excitement among the Fulham faithful as they look forward to the new campaign.
Fulham have made a habit of strong starts in recent years, avoiding defeat on the opening day in both seasons since their latest promotion (1 win, 1 draw). However, their historically poor record at Old Trafford will likely cause some anxiety among traveling supporters.
Marco Silva's personal record against Manchester United is also less than encouraging. He has more defeats (7) against the Red Devils than any team other than Manchester City (11), though he has managed three wins and a draw in this fixture.
While their opponents have been active in the transfer market, Fulham is rebuilding following the summer departures of Tosin Adarabioyo, Joao Palhinha, and long-serving defender Tim Ream. Marco Silva's side finished 13th last season, and despite offers from abroad, the ex-Everton boss chose to remain in England.
Fulham's road form last season was patchy, though they won two of their previous three away games. Notably, three of these teams' last four league encounters have ended in victory for the away side, each secured by a late winner. Silva's impressive unbeaten record in nine opening-day matches suggests Fulham could spring a surprise.
The West London outfit is still adapting to life without Aleksandar Mitrovic, their top scorer in 2022-23. Young Brazilian forward Rodrigo Muniz is expected to lead the line, supported by former United midfielder Andreas Pereira and recent signing Emile Smith Rowe, who scored on his only previous Premier League start at Old Trafford. Recruit Jorge Cuenca may need time to settle, so Issa Diop and Calvin Bassey could start in central defense.
Manchester United: Andre Onana - Diogo Dalot, Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martínez, Noussair Mazraoui - Casemiro, Kobbie Mainoo - Amad Diallo, Bruno Fernandes, Marcus Rashford - Joshua Zirkzee. (4-2-3-1)
Fulham: Bernd Leno - Timothy Castagne, Issa Diop, Calvin Bassey, Antonee Robinson - Sasa Lukic, Harrison Reed - Alex Iwobi, Andreas Pereira, Emile Smith Rowe - Rodrigo Muniz. (4-2-3-1)
The last seven Premier League openers have produced 25 goals, averaging close to four per game, suggesting Friday night could deliver another high-scoring affair. A thrilling, high-scoring match might be the most likely outcome, with both sides still integrating new players and evident defensive vulnerabilities.
Furthermore, both teams have scored in four of the five head-to-head clashes between these sides since Erik ten Hag took charge at Manchester United.
