The brand new English Premier League season will get underway on Friday with Manchester United internet hosting Fulham at Outdated Trafford. For the tenth time in 11 campaigns, the Crimson Devils get their time period underway on residence soil. The Cottagers have misplaced 24 of their final 33 EPL video games in opposition to United though Marco Silva himself is unbeaten in 9 opening day fixtures.
Erik ten Hag’s males are underneath stress from the off after a poor season final outing which solely noticed FA Cup success present a uncommon constructive in direction of the tip. Bitter rivals Manchester Metropolis obtained the higher of United within the FA Neighborhood Defend curtain-raiser however Ten Hag’s squad has obtained a much-needed increase with Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, Leny Yoro and Joshua Zirkzee all coming in. United misplaced six occasions from 19 EPL video games at residence final yr which included this week’s opponents Fulham.
Silva’s aspect are on the lookout for consecutive wins on the highway in opposition to United for the primary time of their historical past. The Cottagers are rebuilding after Tosin Adarabioyo, Joao Palhinha and Tim Ream all left, however Emile Smith Rowe and Jorge Cuenca have are available in. The Fulham boss was additionally supplied a profitable deal to go to Saudi Arabia however opted to remain and is aware of that higher away kind may very well be key to the Londoners enhancing on final yr’s thirteenth place.
Listed below are our storylines, how one can watch the match and extra:
watch and odds
- Date: Friday, August 16 | Time: 3 p.m. ET
- Location: Outdated Trafford — Manchester, England
- TV: USA Community |Â Stay stream:Â Fubo (attempt at no cost)
- Odds: United -167; Draw +333; Fulham +400
Staff information
United: Ten Hag may begin De Ligt and Mazraoui after their arrivals and Yoro’s harm. All of it feels very acquainted for United followers with defensive accidents additionally a theme final yr with the likes of the now departed Raphael Varane. Luke Shaw, Tyrell Malacia and Victor Lindelof are unavailable whereas Harry Maguire began in opposition to Metropolis however shouldn’t be match match. Rasmus Hojlund can be out which may see Zirkzee begin whereas Jadon Sancho is again in rivalry regardless of switch hypothesis whereas captain Bruno Fernandes may begin after agreeing phrases over a brand new deal.
Potential United XI: Onana; Dalot, De Ligt, Martinez, Mazraoui; Casemiro, Mainoo; Amad, Fernandes, Rashford; Zirkzee.
Fulham: Rodrigo Muniz led the Cottagers for targets final yr after Aleksandar Mitrovic’s exit and the Brazilian is prone to be backed up by former United man Andreas Pereira and new arrival Smith Rowe. As Cuenca will get on top of things, count on to see Issa Diop and Calvin Bassey within the central defensive positions.
Potential Fulham XI: Leno; Castagne, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Lukic, Reed; Iwobi, Pereira, Smith Rowe; Muniz.
Prediction
This one feels prefer it may very well be a sluggish begin for United with a rating draw about proper. Ten Hag’s males may sneak it however Silva’s aspect ought to be capable of peg them again and begin their season with a degree on the highway. Choose: United 1, Fulham 1.