2024-25 Premier League: Week One – Man Utd v Fulham

Manchester United kick off the 2024-25 Premier League season against Fulham at Old Trafford.

Man Utd are looking to build upon their eighth-placed finish of last season, whilst Fulham seek improvement upon a tough campaign which saw them finish 13th.

 

Team News

Man Utd could be without defender, Victor Lindelöf due to a knock suffered in pre-season.

Leny Yoro (ankle), Tyrell Malacia (knee), Luke Shaw (calf) and Rasmus Højlund (hamstring) are ruled out.

Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui are in contention for their Utd debuts.

Fulham have no injury issues with Jorge Cuenca and Emile Smith Rowe set for their debuts, whilst Ryan Sessegnon could make his first competitive appearance since he returned on a free transfer.

 

When is Kick-Off?

Man Utd host Fulham at Old Trafford on Friday 16 August at 8pm BST, live on Sky Sports in the UK.

 

Stat Attack

• Man Utd are unbeaten in 16 of their last 17 league meetings against Fulham (W13, D3, L1).
• Fulham are winless in 13 of their last 14 league visits to Man Utd (W1, D2, L11).
• Utd’s Bruno Fernandes has scored in two of his last three league appearances against Fulham.
• Utd have began each of the last seven seasons at home, during which they won on five occasions (W5, L2).
• Smith Rowe has scored in his two friendly appearances for Fulham in pre-season.

 

Prediction

Having endured another tricky pre-season aside from Amad Diallo who looked their only bright spark, Utd certainly need to show more consistency and be less sloppy defensively if want a much better seasons.

De Ligt might look the answer to their central defence issues but he will need time to adapt and settle in, yet was quite injury-hit at Bayern so the jury will be out on him for a while.

I however am cautious because whilst they took the fight to Manchester City in the Community Shield, they don’t seem particularly stronger especially in midfield with questions over the futures of Scott McTominay and Christian Eriksen.

Fulham meanwhile missed the goals of Aleksandar Mitrovic last season and to lose Bobby Decordova-Reid this summer is another loss, which worries me slightly but Smith Rowe hopefully can fill that void if he can deliver goals.

In fact for an opening fixture, this does feel slightly flat but at Old Trafford, Utd surely should find a way to victory somehow.

Prediction: Man Utd 1-0 Fulham

Result: Man Utd 1-0 Fulham