Verdict: Manchester United win & Both teams to score

Best Odds: 7/4

Bookmaker: Dachbet

Getting the new Premier League campaign underway on Friday night, Manchester United will welcome Fulham to Old Trafford.

Manchester United

Starting with the hosts, while Manchester United might have sprung a major FA Cup upset at Wembley on May 25th as they secured a famous 2-1 victory against bitter local rivals Manchester City, the Red Devils endured a public Premier League struggle last season. Breaking a string of unwanted records and coming under a huge amount of scrutiny, Erik ten Hag once again has a real battle on his hands at Old Trafford. Making the decision to stick with the former Ajax boss this summer, United will know the importance of finding some much-needed stability this time around. Winning just a trio of their final 10 Premier League appearances last season, Friday’s hosts also gained a reputation for their inconsistencies at Old Trafford. Failing to collect back-to-back Premier League victories in the red half of Manchester since opening 2024, ten Hag’s men will have all eyes firmly fixed on them this weekend.

Team News

With summer recruit Leny Yoro undergoing foot surgery and expected to be sidelined for the next few months, Manchester United will be without their new defensive star on Friday night. However, arriving from Italian outfit Bologna last month, Netherlands international Joshua Zirkzee should make his Premier League debut at Old Trafford.

Despite returning to ten Hag’s squad this summer following a public feud last season, Jadon Sancho will likely settle for a spot on the bench this weekend. Expected to sign a new long-term deal over the coming weeks, Bruno Ferandnes will lead out United here and should be joined by Marcus Rashford in the final third.

Fulham

As for the visitors, almost sat in Premier League limbo for large spells of last season as they limped their way to a bottom-half finish, Fulham are looking to put in a better account of themselves this time around. With some in Marco Silva’s camp setting their sights on a genuine top-10 charge this year, the former Everton boss knows that stability is key. Despite signing off the 202324 campaign with an action-packed 4-2 victory away at Luton on May 19th, the Cottagers registered just a pair of wins from any of their final nine Premier League appearances. However, despite being pencilled in as a real underdog on Friday night, Fulham will be excited by their most recent trip to Old Trafford. Landing a sensational 2-1 win when they travelled to the red half of Manchester back on February 24th, Silva’s side will be desperate to spring another heavyweight upset this weekend.

Team News

Arriving from Arsenal this summer for a reported fee in the region of £35million, England international Emile Smith Rowe will make his competitive Fulham debut at Old Trafford. Not featuring for the Cottagers during their summer preparations, it remains to be seen if former Chelsea ace Willian will be included in Silva’s squad.

Notching nine Premier League strikes, one-time Middlesbrough loanee Rodrigo Muniz will spearhead Fulham’s charge this weekend. Ex-West Ham star Issa Diop should partner Calvin Bassey at the heart of Silva’s defence on Friday night.

Key Factors to Consider

• When Manchester United and Fulham last met at Old Trafford back on February 24th, the Cottagers collected a shock 2-1 victory.
• The Red Devils won just a trio of their final 10 Premier League appearances last season.
• Likewise, Fulham recorded just a pair of wins from any of their final nine Premier League showdowns last season.
• Ten Hag’s side recorded just three clean sheets from any of their final 12 Premier League matchups at Old Trafford.
• Six of the last seven meetings between Manchester United and Fulham have finished with both teams finding the net.

Conclusion

While the Old Trafford hierarchy might have made the decision to stick with ten Hag this summer, the former Ajax boss will already have a tremendous amount of pressure on his shoulders. Knowing the importance of making an early statement on Friday night, Manchester United will simply be looking to overcome a potential banana skin on home soil. Although Fulham might have snatched a famous 2-1 victory when they travelled to Old Trafford back on February 24th, we are expecting a reverse outcome here.

Verdict: Manchester United win & Both teams to score

Best Odds: 7/4

Bookmaker: Dachbet