Manchester United vs Fulham
Date and Time: 16th August 2024, 20:00 BST
Place: Old Trafford
As the Premier League 2024/25 season begins, Manchester United and Fulham face off in what promises to be an intriguing opening fixture. United, under Erik ten Hag, aims to start strong, bolstered by the addition of new signings and a positive pre-season.
Team News
Manchester United:
United faces several injury challenges with key players like Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez, Tyrell Malacia, and Aaron Wan-Bissaka unavailable. Rasmus Hojlund is also sidelined.
The team is buoyed by the presence of new signing Mason Mount, who is expected to provide a creative spark in midfield alongside Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro.
Despite these setbacks, the club's faith in Ten Hag remains strong, reminiscent of Arsenal's patience with Mikel Arteta during their rebuilding phase (Premier League News) (Sports Mole) (Sky Sports).
Fulham:
Fulham enters this match without Joao Palhinha, who has transferred to Bayern Munich for €50 million, leaving a significant gap in their midfield. They also miss the services of Raul Jimenez due to a thigh injury.
The team, which has struggled in pre-season, will be looking to regroup under the leadership of Marco Silva, although they have not made significant signings to replace their losses (Sports Mole) (Wikipedia).
Analysis
Manchester United has been proactive in their preparations, participating in numerous friendly matches to build form and cohesion. In contrast, Fulham has been less active in the transfer market and enters the season with several key departures and injuries. This difference in preparation and squad stability might favor United as they look to start strong and capitalize on any early-season vulnerabilities in Fulham's lineup.
The game promises to be an exciting start to the season, with United fans eager to see their team push for major honors both domestically and in Europe. The support for Ten Hag indicates confidence in his ability to lead the team to greater heights, much like Arteta's eventual success at Arsenal (Premier League News) (Sports Mole).
Predicted Lineups
Manchester United:
Goalkeeper: Andre Onana
Defenders: Diogo Dalot, Raphael Varane, Victor Lindelof, Sergio Reguilon
Midfielders: Casemiro, Mason Mount, Bruno Fernandes
Forwards: Antony, Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho
Fulham:
Goalkeeper: Bernd Leno
Defenders: Timothy Castagne, Tim Ream, Calvin Bassey, Antonee Robinson
Midfielders: Sasa Lukic, Harrison Reed
Forwards: Bobby Decordova-Reid, Andreas Pereira, Willian, Rodrigo Muniz.
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