The new English Premier League season starts on Friday with Manchester United hosting Fulham at Old Trafford. For the 10th time in 11 campaigns, the Red Devils start their season on home soil. The Cottagers have lost 24 of their last 33 EPL matches against United, although Marco Silva himself is unbeaten in nine opening day games.
Erik ten Hag’s men have been under pressure from the start after a poor campaign last season, in which only FA Cup success towards the end yielded a rare positive result. Bitter rivals Manchester City got the better of United in the FA Community Shield match, but Ten Hag’s squad has been given a much-needed boost with the arrivals of Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee. United lost six times from last year’s 19 EPL games at home, including this week’s opponents Fulham.
Silva’s side are looking for back-to-back wins against United for the first time in their history. The Cottagers are rebuilding after Tosin Adarabioyo, Joao Palhinha and Tim Ream all left, but Emile Smith Rowe and Jorge Cuenca have joined. The Fulham boss was also offered a lucrative deal to move to Saudi Arabia but opted to stay and knows better away form could be key to the Londoners improving on last year’s 13th place finish.
Here are our storylines, how to watch the match and more:
How to watch and odds
- Date: Friday August 16 | Time: 3:00 PM ET
- Location: Old Trafford – Manchester, England
- TV: US Network | Live stream: Fubo (try for free)
- Chances: United -167; Sign +333; Fulham +400
Team news
United: Ten Hag could start De Ligt and Mazraoui after their arrival and Yoro’s injury. It all feels very familiar to United fans with defensive injuries, which was also a theme last year for the now departed Raphael Varane. Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Victor Lindelof are unavailable while Harry Maguire started against City but is not match fit. Rasmus Hojlund is also out and could see Zirkzee start while Jadon Sancho is back in contention despite transfer speculation, while captain Bruno Fernandes could start after agreeing terms on a new deal.
Possible United XI: Onana; Dalot, De Ligt, Martinez, Mazraoui; Casemiro, Mainoo; Amad, Fernandes, Rashford; Zirkzee.
Fulham: Rodrigo Muniz led the Cottagers in goals last year following the departure of Aleksandar Mitrovic and the Brazilian is likely to be joined by former United man Andreas Pereira and newcomer Smith Rowe. As Cuenca picks up speed, expect Issa Diop and Calvin Bassey in the central defense positions.
Possible Fulham XI: Leno; Castagne, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Lukic, Reed; Iwobi, Pereira, Smith Rowe; Muniz.
Prediction
This one feels like it could be a slow start for United, with the score about even. Ten Hag’s men could do it stealthily, but Silva’s side should be able to get them back and start their season with a point on the road. Choose: United1, Fulham1.
