Ten Hag Looks To Turn Community Shield Loss Into Premier League Success

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Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag is urging his team to use their recent Community Shield loss to Manchester City as motivation for their Premier League opener against Fulham on Friday. The Red Devils narrowly missed out on the Shield, losing in a penalty shootout after a 1-1 draw in regular time, where Alejandro Garnacho had initially put them ahead. Ten Hag expressed his disappointment but also highlighted the positives, noting that the team performed well and had moments they could have won the game.

Since the loss, Manchester United have bolstered their defense by signing Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui from Bayern Munich. However, they will be missing Luke Shaw, who sustained a calf injury in pre-season training. As they prepare to face Fulham at Old Trafford, history weighs in their favor; United have typically performed well against Fulham, winning 24 out of their 34 Premier League matches.

A key player to watch for Manchester United is Bruno Fernandes. With Rasmus Hojlund absent, Fernandes will be essential in driving the attack. He was United's joint-top scorer last season with 10 goals and created the most chances in the league. Fernandes has a good record against Fulham, scoring four times in seven matches.

Fulham, under the guidance of Marco Silva, are hoping to continue their impressive opening day form, having lost only two of their first Premier League matches in the last nine seasons. Silva's tenure has seen the club achieve promotion and solid mid-table finishes. Fulham have restructured their squad after losing star midfielder Joao Palhinha to Bayern Munich, bringing in Emile Smith Rowe and Ryan Sessegnon to strengthen their forward line.

On the Fulham side, attention will be on Emile Smith Rowe, who recently joined from Arsenal for £34 million. Smith Rowe has a history of scoring against United and could replicate the feats of players like Darren Bent, Emmanuel Adebayor, and Frank Lampard who have scored away against United with two different London clubs.

Match Prediction and Historical Context

The match prediction favors Manchester United, given their historically strong record against Fulham and their recent home form. However, Fulham could cause an upset, having won their last visit to Old Trafford and finishing last season strongly in away fixtures. Silva's excellent record on opening days adds another layer of intrigue, with the manager unbeaten in his last nine such matches.

Opta's win probability tools suggest a 58.5% chance of a United victory, a 20.9% chance of a draw, and a 20.6% chance of Fulham winning.

Tom Cairney, Fulham’s captain, acknowledges the challenge ahead, recognizing Manchester United’s quality and the difficulty of playing at Old Trafford.

This match promises excitement as both teams aim to start their Premier League campaigns positively.