Man Utd vs Fulham Preview & Prediction | 2024-25 English Premier League
Click here for today’s sports betting tips from our expert analysts!
In what has been the first summer transfer window of the INEOS era, Manchester United are hardly ‘new look’ but they will hope for much improved results as they kick off their Premier League campaign at home to a Fulham side that are also transitioning away from some big names once again this summer.
KICK-OFF DATE/TIME: Friday 16th August, 2024 - UK – 8:00pm / US ET – 3:00pm / US PT – 12:00pm
HOW TO WATCH ON TV: UK – Sky Sports / US – USA Network & NBC Universo
HOW TO WATCH ONLINE: UK – SkyGo / US – Fubo, Sling Blue & DirecTV Stream
MAN UTD PREVIEW: ONE MORE CHANCE FOR ERIK TEN HAG
Manchester United began the 2024/25 season with a penalty shootout defeat to Manchester City in the Community Shield last weekend after the two sides had played out a 1-1 draw at Wembley Stadium. The Red Devils finished eighth last season and the pressure simply has to be on Erik ten Hag to produce a strong start to the season.
In the transfer window, United signed both Joshua Zirkzee and Leny Yoro early on with both Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui joining this week from Bayern Munich with a view to forming a part of their starting line-up to face Fulham at Old Trafford on the opening day of the season.
FULHAM PREVIEW: MARCO SILVA’S ABILITY TO ADJUST
Last summer, Fulham lost their striker and talisman Aleksandar Mitrovic to eventual Saudi Pro League winners Al Hilal and this time the Cottagers have suffered another major first-team blow with Portuguese international midfielder Joao Palhinha leaving the club to join Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich.
Marco Silva showed he could adjust well to difficult circumstances last season without Mitrovic and he will have to do so again this time around. Fulham haven’t yet brought in a direct defensive midfield replacement for Joao Palhinha but they have signed centre-back Jorge Cuenca, attacking midfielder Emile Smith Rowe and left-sided player Ryan Sessegnon.
MAN UTD TEAM NEWS: NEW SIGNINGS TO COME IN
In his pre-match press conference, Erik ten Hag has confirmed that new signings Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui will be available and in the Manchester United squad for the opening day with the likelihood being that at least one of them starts.
It was confirmed earlier in the week that England international Luke Shaw has suffered yet another injury, albeit it should be a short-term absence, whilst the likes of Leny Yoro and Rasmus Hojlund are also sidelined through injury.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Onana; Diogo Dalot, Maguire, De Ligt, Martinez; Casemiro, Mainoo; Alejandro Garnacho, Mount, Rashford; Fernandes
UNAVAILABLE: Yoro (Injured), Malacia (Injured), Shaw (Injured), Fish (Injured), Hojlund (Injured)
QUESTIONABLE: Lindelof (Injured)
FULHAM TEAM NEWS: FULLY FIT FULHAM
Throughout the majority of last season, Fulham and Marco Silva were one of the few teams that suffered very few injuries and the Cottagers had a fully fit and available squad on a regular basis.
That appears to be the case once again. The only doubt is to whether Emile Smith Rowe will make his debut from the start this week, although Marco Silva has praised his condition and impact in pre-season.
PREDICTED XI (4-2-3-1): Leno; Castagne, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Pereira, Lukic; Iwobi, Smith Rowe, Adama Traore; Rodrigo Muniz
UNAVAILABLE:
QUESTIONABLE:
MAN UTD VS FULHAM PREDICTION
On the opening day of last season, Manchester United squeezed past Wolverhampton Wanderers by a goal to nil at Old Trafford in a game whereby they were second best throughout and the performance was a portent of things to come for last season. Fulham can play an expansive style of football under Marco Silva and they even won at Old Trafford last season so will have no fear. United remain favourites but it could be quite an entertaining watch for the neutral.
MAN UTD VS FULHAM TIP: MAN UTD TO WIN & BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE
