Afrigather 
Erik ten Hag desires his Manchester United squad to make use of their Group Defend loss to Manchester Metropolis as motivation towards Fulham in Friday’s Premier League opener.
Ten Hag’s group virtually began the season with one other trophy, however fell to defeat in a penalty shootout at Wembley after Alejandro Garnacho’s strike had given them the lead.
Bernardo Silva levelled late on for Pep Guardiola’s Metropolis aspect, with Manuel Akanji scoring the decisive spot-kick after Jonny Evans’ miss from 12 yards.
“We’re dissatisfied,” Ten Hag stated. “Now we have to really feel the ache and everybody feels the ache. That’s a superb sign, however I additionally see some positives.
“We carried out properly, we might’ve gained that sport, we had been twice main within the sport and within the penalties, however we misplaced, and we’re dissatisfied. However we take the positives.”
The Crimson Devils have since bolstered their defensive ranks, with Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui becoming a member of from Bayern Munich, however they are going to be with out the injured Luke Shaw.
It was confirmed on Tuesday that the full-back will miss the beginning of the season after sustaining a calf harm in pre-season coaching.
Good morning, Reds #MUFC pic.twitter.com/861GV2wgCK
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 14, 2024
For Fulham, they are going to be hopeful of sustaining their spectacular opening day type, having misplaced their first Premier League match in simply two of their final 9 seasons (4 wins, three attracts).
Marco Silva’s tenure has featured a promotion and two comfy campaigns within the prime flight, and so they have regenerated their squad within the switch window after dropping star midfielder Joao Palhinha to Bayern Munich.
Emile Smith Rowe and Ryan Sessegnon’s arrivals have improved their ahead line, and they are going to be assured of beginning the season strongly at Outdated Trafford.
The Cottagers prevailed on their final go to to M16, profitable 2-1 again in February, however captain Tom Cairney acknowledged a stern problem awaits them.
“For the standard of their squad, you possibly can argue they’ve been slightly bit hit or miss,” Cairney stated. “It was superb for them to win the trophy on the finish of final season.
“In the event that they’re on, in the event that they’re firing on all cylinders, it’s a troublesome evening for us.
“They’ve obtained high quality all through the squad, Champions League winners, however Marco will certainly gear us as much as go there and attempt to win.”
Work onerous collectively. pic.twitter.com/f387wPUkwB
— Fulham Soccer Membership (@FulhamFC) August 13, 2024
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Manchester United – Bruno Fernandes
Within the absence of Rasmus Hojlund, United will look in the direction of the attacking skills of captain Bruno Fernandes to supply that artistic spark within the closing third.
Fernandes completed because the Crimson Devils’ joint-top scorer within the Premier League final season with 10 objectives in 35 appearances, whereas additionally creating extra possibilities within the division than another participant (114).
The United captain has scored 4 occasions towards Fulham in his seven video games towards them in all competitions, solely scoring extra towards Everton (5), Leeds (six) and Aston Villa (seven) of the English sides he has confronted.
Fulham – Emile Smith Rowe
All eyes will likely be on Fulham new boy Smith Rowe following his £34million change from Arsenal, with the potential for becoming a member of a choose few gamers ought to he discover the goal.
Smith Rowe scored on his solely Premier League begin towards United at Outdated Trafford in a 3-2 defeat throughout his time with Arsenal in December 2021.
Solely Darren Bent (Fulham and Tottenham), Emmanuel Adebayor (Arsenal and Tottenham) and Frank Lampard (Chelsea and West Ham) have scored away towards the Crimson Devils with two totally different London golf equipment within the Premier League.
MATCH PREDICTION: MANCHESTER UNITED WIN
United have misplaced simply 4 of their 34 Premier League conferences with Fulham (24 wins, six attracts), however a type of got here of their most up-to-date encounter again in February.
Ten Hag’s aspect have struggled versus sides from the capital, dropping their final three house video games towards groups from London. Ought to Fulham emerge victorious, it will likely be the primary time since a run of 5 between December 1985 and September 1986 that United have misplaced 4 consecutive video games towards London golf equipment.
However the Crimson Devils begin their marketing campaign in entrance of their house supporters for the eighth season in a row, changing into the primary in Premier League historical past to begin a season with a house sport in eight seasons consecutively.
Fulham, nonetheless, will likely be out to trigger an upset. They gained two of their closing three Premier League away video games final season (one draw), as many as they managed of their first 16 on the street in 2023-24 (5 attracts, 9 defeats).
Following their victory in Manchester in February, Fulham wish to win on consecutive league visits to United for the primary time. They’ve confronted them at Outdated Trafford of their opening league match thrice beforehand, dropping all three (0-1 in 1950-51, 2-3 in 2001-02 and 1-5 in 2006-07).
And there’s no higher man to guide them out than Silva, who’s unbeaten in his final 9 opening day matches (three wins, six attracts), along with his final such defeat coming within the Primeira Liga with Estoril in 2012-13 (1-2 v Olhanense).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Manchester United – 58.5%
Draw – 20.9%
Fulham – 20.6%
