The new Premier League season kicks off Friday evening at Old Trafford when Fulham visit Manchester United.
We preview the Manchester United vs Fulham match, as well as provide a prediction as to how the scoreline may ultimately pan out.
Quick Stats
- Manchester United have four players out due to injury, including their most expensive signing this summer, Frenchman Leny Yoro.
- This would be the eighth year in a row that United start a season at home — the longest such run in Premier League history.
- Since rejoining the Premier League in 2022 — following promotion from the Championship — Fulham have avoided defeat in their two Premier League season-openers. (2-2 v Liverpool; 1-0 v Fulham).
- Fulham's best opening result of a Premier League season remains a 5-0 thrashing of Norwich City in the 2012/13 campaign.
Match Preview
Manchester United had a bitter-sweet end to last season, following up a thoroughly disappointing eighth-place finish with an unlikely FA Cup triumph against perennial English champions and neighbours Manchester City.
Manager Erik ten Hag's blushes were spared, and his job saved, by that late-season high, and the club — now steered by Sir Jim Ratcliffe's INEOS, which has overseen the appointment of a raft of highly sought-after football executives to turn the club's fortunes — has since committed a significant transfer outlay towards reinforcing the squad.
Regardless of who has been signed already — Yoro (mentioned earlier), Joshua Zirkzee, Mathijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui — or who is yet to arrive (we're looking at you, Manuel Ugarte), nothing would get the pulses racing and hopes soaring more than a great start to the league season; a treat United fans have already enjoyed 21 times in the Premier League era. A 22nd would be anticipated, but do not expect their opponents to give it away so easily.
Fulham won just seven of their second-round Premier League games last term, and manager Marco Silva has strengthened his squad in key areas for a return to better form.
The most expensive arrival is Emile Smith Rowe from Arsenal, who would be joining Nigerian Alex Iwobi in midfield, while Jorge Cuenca joins from Villarreal as a replacement for Tosin Adarabioyo and prospective partner for Super Eagle Calvin Bassey.
Iwobi and Bassey figured prominently in their first season at Craven Cottage, and their status as nailed-on starters is not expected to change; if anything, both would be hoping for an even stronger sophomore campaign.
Statement performances from the pair away at Old Trafford last season — where they scored to hand Fulham a big victory — would certainly drum that intent home loud and clear.
Manchester United vs Fulham H2H
Last 10 Games
- February 2024: United 1-2 Fulham
- November 2023: Fulham 0-1 United
- May 2023: United 2-1 Fulham
- March 2023: United 3-1 Fulham
- November 2022: Fulham 1-2 United
- May 2021: United 1-1 Fulham
- January 2021: Fulham 1-2 United
- February 2019: Fulham 0-3 United
- December 2018: United 4-1 Fulham
- February 2014: United 2-2 Fulham
Manchester United vs Fulham Prediction
Manchester United are, by far, the more dominant side in the history of this fixture. They have only lost three of their last ten opening-day games, not drawing any since Newcastle visited and played out a 1-1 stalemate in 2008.
Draws have been rare, too, in Manchester United vs Fulham matches, and with the breeze of renewal currently blowing strongly in the red half of Manchester, expect United to put their best foot forward this season: victory, and by a comfortable margin.
Predicted Lineups
Manchester United: André Onana, Noussair Mazraoui, Matthijs de Ligt, Lisandro Martinez, Diogo Dalot; Casemiro, Kobbie Mainoo; Amad Diallo, Bruno Fernandes, Alejandro Garnacho, Joshua Zirkzee
Fulham: Bernd Leno; Timothy Castagne, Calvin Bassey, Jorge Cuenca, Antonee Robinson; Tom Cairney, Emile Smith Rowe; Harry Wilson, Andreas Pereira, Alex Iwobi; Rodrigo Muniz
