As we approach the start of the 33rd season of the PL, we bring you the Premier League 24/25 Manchester United vs Fulham preview. After a disappointing end to the 23/24 season, both of these squads will be hoping to improve their positions in the league during the upcoming season. A strong start to the competition will go a long way for both these teams to improve their abilities throughout the season. Considering Manchester United’s rich history in the Premier League, they will be giving it their all to improve their current stats and go back to the good old days.
The first match of the season will be between Manchester United and Fulham FC at Old Trafford, Manchester United’s home field. The game is set to start on August 17 and will be the first match of the day alongside being the first game of the season. Despite being one of the most decorated teams in the league, the last time Manchester United won the Premier League was back during the 2012-2013 season. Since then they have come as close as second-place but have been unable to snatch the top spot. The 23/24 was one of the worst seasons for the club as they finished 8th, they’re lowest position in a long time. With 18 wins and 14 losses, the players and fans knew they had a lot of work to do going into the next season.
Fulham, on the other hand, is not as decorated as the Red Devils. They have not been able to secure a Premier League title. Despite playing more than 15 seasons in the league, the club has rarely found themselves at the upper end of the standings. The 23/24 season had them finish 13th with only 47 points, barely avoiding relegation. The recent transfer window has been quite rough as well as they had to sell talented players such as João Palhinha and Bobby De Cordova-Reid. However, they do have a decent supply of talented footballers like Willian, Harrison Reed, and a few new faces which include Emile Smith Rowe and Ryan Sessegnon. Hopefully, these players will be able to mesh together and form a chemistry strong enough to overthrow the Red Devils.
Manchester United Team Preview
The current squad for Manchester United is a great blend of experience and energy. The seasoned players have a great strong understanding of their oppositions and are quickly able to counter-strategize in the heat of the moment. Meanwhile, the young guns are filled with energy and agility which make them a menace during planned set-pieces. This is a great quality for any club to have. Being able to form cohesion between these two traits allows for a team to excel. The 13-time Premier League-winning squad has aimed to do so for a long time.
Considering the club’s age and experience, there is no lack of veterans. Players like Harry Maguire, Victor Lindelöf, Luke Shaw, and Christian Eriksen have been playing for a long time and have earned the title of being accomplished footballers. They have participated in numerous competitions over the years and have developed their tactical eyes which allow them to figure out the weaknesses in their opponents and quickly plan a counter. Among the young guns, we have the likes of Lisandro Martínez, Mason Mount, and Rasmus Højlund. These new prodigies have shown immense talent in tournaments all over the world and with the proper guidance can impact the competition massively.
However, despite the immense talent and pool of experience, the club has been largely unsuccessful in being able to make these traits coexist in the same field. Their recent years have shown a major lack of chemistry within the players. The wide variety of talented footballers have struggled against teams who are far less experienced and skilled because of the lack of synergy. Evidence of these lackings has been seen several times during the 23/24 season of the Premier League. A 4-0 loss against Crystal Palace, a 1-1 draw against Burnley, a 202 draw against AFC Bournemouth, and a 2-1 loss against Nottingham Forest. These results display a clear lack of communication among the players which sprouts more minor issues.
Problems like this have been plaguing the club and disabling them from winning another title since the 2012-2013 season. It is important to note that Manchester United has come close to winning the league several times but ended up finishing second. These seasons are clear exceptions that show the potential threat the club can become if they can synergize their players. Despite being the team with the most Premier League titles, the club has been unable to do so for a long time.
Considering how their last season went, an 8th-place finish with only 18 wins, Erik ten Hag needs to figure out a way to resolve the issues fast, or soon the results may become even worse. The club’s state may worsen to the point where they may struggle even against their upcoming opponents, Fulham.
Predicted XI: Onana (GK), Lindelöf, Evans, Amass, Wan-Bissaka, Mount, Collyer, Casemiro, Sancho, Marcus Rashford, Amad
Fulham FC Team Preview
Fulham FC have not been on the same level as the likes of Manchester United, despite their unstable form. The club has rarely placed above 9th place and has suffered relegation numerous times. However, the players have shown a great sense of resilience and tactical prowess in their recent matches. They also have a great mixture of experience and potential which give them an edge going into the game. Despite the odds being greatly not in their favor and their past results being worse than their opposition, Marco Silva and the squad need to show up with a strong sense of determination as they approach matchday.
The club has a great assortment of talented players with immense knowledge. They have spent a long time on the pitch which has given them a strong sense of strategic awareness. Players like Tom Cairney, Tim Ream, and Harrison Reed have developed their skills over the years, allowing them to quickly analyze and react. These veterans have competed against the top teams of England numerous times over the years and have formed an invaluable insight. Such tactical vision comes in handy alongside younger players who are agile and brimming with energy. Rodrigo Muniz and their latest addition to the squad, Ryan Sessegnon, are great examples of young talents with immense potential. Their incredible speed and quick reflexes allow them to exploit the opportunities created by the veterans.
However, the results of the club tell a different story. We’ve seen the team struggle even in the mid-level teams in the league. They seem to be outclassed in their games against the top teams like Liverpool, Manchester City, and even the likes of Wolverhampton in some cases. Their 23/24 season included several games where they simply could not withstand the caliber of their opposition. A 3-1 loss against AFC Bournemouth, a 3-0 loss against Newcastle, and a 3-1 loss against Aston Villa. These scores reflect the massive gap in their ability to counter teams and utilize their own strengths.
Fulham’s last season saw them finish near the lower half of the standings and with the caliber of the upper clubs improving, the chances of the club recovering grows slim. They need to develop their acumen and understanding of the game on the fly. Learning how to exploit openings in your opposition’s plans will be a critical factor that they will have to develop.
Predicted XI: Leno (GK), Cuenca, Tete, Bassey, Ream, Castagne, Mbabu, Sessegnon, Smith Rowe, Reed, Raúl Jiménez
Manchester United vs Fulham Betting Odds
Manchester United 1.53 – 4.33 Draw –6.00 Fulham (Bet365)
Manchester United vs Fulham Head-to-Head Stats
Based on the stats of previous matches of the two teams, Manchester United has the major advantage going into the game. They have played against each other 39 times and Manchester has come out on top 29 times. Fulham has won only 4 matches and ended 6 matches in a draw. The last eight matches between these two teams have Manchester winning 6 times and drawing once. However, the last time they faced off was earlier this year during February and Fulham managed to win with a 1-2 scoreline.
Manchester United vs Fulham FC Betting Tips and Predictions
After observing the stats and taking a look at the odds, there is not much argument against the fact that Manchester United is the favored team going into the game. On paper, they have better and more experienced players. They have shown better results against the top teams of the league and consistently place high on the board. Fulham definitely has the potential to perform but lacks in numerous areas which has led to poor finishes in their recent seasons. The best thing they have going for them is their new talent and the poor form their opposition is in based on their past season results.
In conclusion, Fulham will have to work quite hard if they wish to topple Manchester United even in this weakened state. The thing fans will have to consider is that this is a new season and a fresh start for the teams, they will experiment with new tactics and players to see how they perform. These factors add some uncertainty to the matches. However, based purely on their recent results, Manchester United should have no trouble winning this game.