Premier League preview: Man Utd vs Fulham
The Premier League gets underway on Friday night, mighty (maybe) Manchester United entertaining west London’s Fulham. Can the Cottagers upset the odds at Old Trafford?
It’s hardly the stuff of a madman’s dream, with Marco Silva’s side winning 2-1 here in the Prem back in February.
Fulham haven’t lost either of their last two opening day fixtures in the top flight, either. They beat Everton away 1-0 last season, holding Liverpool to a 2-2 draw at Craven Cottage in their 2022-23 opener.
Man United did start with a win in their previous campaign, a 1-0 victory over Wolves. The season before that, though, they began with 2-1 defeat at home to Brighton.
Will Erik ten Hag’s men find themselves similarly flummoxed by Fulham? The visitors’ new signing Emile Smith Rowe will certainly be eager to start in fast fashion.
United have been busy in the transfer market too; completing the signings of Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt from Bayern earlier this week. That pair join Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro, though Yoro has already picked up an injury that will keep him out of action for the opening weeks of the season.
So are United well placed to enjoy a better Premier League season this time, after a very disappointing eighth place finish last time?
At least Ten Hag’s side finished in positive fashion, closing the season with three wins in all competitions; after a campaign that looked as though it would end with Ten Hag’s dismissal, the Dutchman led his side to victory over Man City in the FA Cup.
And with some faint increase in positivity around United since Sir Jim Ratcliffe became a minority shareholder in the club, this could be a decent match to get the season up and running.
Bruno Fernandes has scored four goals across his last four meetings with Fulham in all competitions; Fernandes is 6/1 to fire the opener on Friday.
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