Subs: Bayindir, de Ligt, Zirkzee, Eriksen, Garnacho, Antony, Evans, McTominay, Collyer.
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Fulham: Leno, Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson, Lukic, Smith Rowe, Traore, Andreas Pereira, Iwobi, Rodrigo Muniz.
Subs: Benda, Reed, Jimenez, Wilson, Cairney, Cuenca, Castagne, King, Stansfield.
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Referee: Robert Jones (Merseyside).
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Your United XI on opening day! 🔴📋#MUFC || #MUNFUL
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 16, 2024
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The Fulham™️.#MUNFUL pic.twitter.com/x14QdVblTc
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) August 16, 2024
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Sound on! Vision on! Welcome, welcome, welcome home to the Premier League! And to borrow the words of legendary ITN newscaster Leonard Parkin: good evening again, it’s good to be back again, so let me simply say, let’s get on with it. Kick-off is at 8pm BST. It’s on!
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Main Events
A corner of wild preseason optimism. “The fact that we won at Old Trafford last season and that a win tonight would see us top of the league brings an unreal level of excitement to Craven Cottage in Occitanie. Having my daughter here on holiday, who supports Fulham, is further evidence that there can only be one outcome tonight. I’d like to be the first to say that hope kills this season.” – Richard Hurst
“I am really looking forward to ‘real’ football returning. I took almost a year off football last season because I was fed up with VAR, dives, arguments with referees, time-wasters and the endless post-match discussions about offside decisions. But I’m back, I’ve got my fantasy league set up and a score prediction contest going and I really can’t wait.”
“8.05pm: Robinson glares at Bruno, who collapses in agony and a Fulham player is shown a yellow card. See you in August 2025.” – Nathan Fisher
“Will United’s loss tonight have the same effect on their season as the actions of my uncle who first referred to the ‘awakened mind virus’ at a family gathering?” – Matthew Carpenter-Arévalo
“Ten Hag didn’t live up to expectations last season and he won’t live up to expectations this season either” – Jeff Sacks
Marco Silva speaks to Sky Sports. “There will be no surprises from Manchester United. We know what line-up they will be fielding…There is always room for improvement…We lost four or five key players…We are in the starting 11…But we have gained three players…The pre-season was really good…We had some really good games…We need to bring in new players to make an impact…We will bring in some more players…We will bring in one player… [the departed João Palhinha’s] Location … [Emile Smith Rowe] He’s going to bring something special in the pocket areas… We’re excited to have him with us.”
History suggests Fulham will struggle tonight. They have faced Manchester United 91 times, winning just 15 and losing 56 times. They have only won twice at Old Trafford in the last 50 years. But there is always a but in football. One of those two victories came just six months ago, and was well deserved. Here is what happened:
Pre-season reading. Get it while your optimism levels are at 110 percent.
A relaxed Erik ten Hag spoke to Sky Sports. “Of course I’m ready… I’m very excited about the new season… I want to move forward… I strongly believe that we can move forward… We’ve developed young players… They are more mature… They are really contributing… It fits perfectly with the DNA of Manchester United… Aggressive, dynamic, speed… We’ve worked on a lot of things [4-2-2-2] Last season…it was a very good situation for us…you always have to make things better…in the last game of last season and in the preseason we improved…I’m happy with the process we’re going through now… [Mazraoui] They are quick, agile and can contribute in the build-up and attack. They can get forward and are very good on the ball. We are unstoppable. [on transfers] … It depends on what happens in the market … But I’m happy with the team … I’m pretty confident about this season … There’s a lot of communication [with the new sporting directors] So we are all on the same page, we are all working together… I feel good… There is a good atmosphere not only in the team but also in the club… It is important to start well… It will be a good foundation for the rest of the season… Not everything will be 100% but we have to deliver and get wins.”
Manchester United have handed new right-back Nouseir Mazraoui a full debut. The club’s other summer signings, Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee, are on the bench.
Fulham’s starting lineup also includes a new face in Emile Smith Rowe. Jorge Cuenca, the new signing from Villarreal, is on the bench.
team
Manchester United: Onana, Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Mazraoui, Mainou, Casemiro, Diallo, Mount, Rashford, Bruno Fernandes.
Subs: Beijndil, De Ligt, Zirkzee, Eriksen, Garnacho, Anthony, Evans, McTominay, Collier.
Fulham: Leno, Tete, Diop, Bassey, Robinson, Lukic, Smith Rowe, Traore, Andreas Pereira, Iwobi, Rodrigo Muniz.
Subs: Benda, Reid, Jimenez, Wilson, Cairney, Cuenca, Castagne, King, Stansfield.
Referee: Robert Jones (Merseyside).
United’s opening XI! 🔴📋#MUFC || #Manful
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 16, 2024
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Flam™️.#Manful pic.twitter.com/x14QdVblTc
— Fulham Football Club (@FulhamFC) August 16, 2024
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preamble
Sound on! Vision on! Welcome to the Premier League! And in the words of legendary ITN newscaster Leonard Parkin, “Good evening, good to be back with you. So, long story short, let’s get started.” Kick-off is at 8pm BST. It has begun!
