Fulham narrowly miss out at Old Trafford in opening game of Premier League

Facing Manchester United away was always going to be a tough challenge for Marco Silva’s team, but the Whites were just minutes away from securing a hard-fought draw after their 2-1 win at Old Trafford last season.

However, as the final whistle blew, it felt like history repeating itself. Despite a battling performance, Fulham conceded a late debut goal from Zirkzee, reviving painful memories of previous last-minute goals by Garnacho and Fernandes.

Marco Silva summed it up perfectly after the game, stating:

“It is a frustrating result for us.”

Fulham had their chances, especially in the first 20 minutes when they dominated United with incisive, purposeful play. The ball moved swiftly through midfield, with Smith Rowe and Pereira linking up well—an encouraging sign for the future as they continue to develop their partnership.

Adama Traore, however, was the standout, looking particularly dangerous on the right wing. After an injury-plagued last season, the winger seemed back to his best, bursting through tackles with strength and pace, and combining effectively with right-back Tete. Fulham’s speed on the flanks was evident.

As the first half wore on, Manchester United began to find their rhythm, pushing Fulham back with Mainoo and Fernandes controlling the game. Leno made several impressive saves and looked sharp in goal, though his distribution was occasionally off. A goalless first half was a fair reflection, with both teams missing chances.

Fulham started the second half brightly, looking the more likely to score. While United had opportunities of their own, Fulham should have capitalised during a series of corners and free kicks, but they failed to find the breakthrough.

The most significant missed chances came as the game progressed and United pushed higher up the pitch in search of a winner, leaving space behind their defence. Fulham had two or three counterattacking opportunities that they really should have made more of.

Marco Silva’s frustration was clear:

“We should have done better when we had 3 against 2 in the second half,” he reflected.

As the frantic pace continued, Fulham began to lose composure, rushing passes and clearances as full-time approached. It became a bit desperate, and Silva will no doubt look to address this mental aspect, ensuring his players stick to the game plan and see out matches more effectively.

“We lost emotional control when the game became broken in the last 20 minutes,” Silva admitted.

A 1-0 defeat away to Manchester United is far from disastrous. There were many positives in Fulham’s performance and, with a few more signings, there’s reason for optimism about a successful season. The team could benefit from more quality in defensive midfield to provide stability. They began to look vulnerable as the game wore on.

With new players integrating into the squad and Marco Silva at the helm—along with the increased capacity of Craven Cottage to intimidate opponents—Fulham fans will be hoping for a top-half finish in the league and dreaming of cup success.