Lacking match fitness after his £36.5 million move from Bologna, Joshua Zirkzee was introduced in the final 30 minutes of the match. The 22-year-old Dutch striker made an immediate impact, scoring the decisive goal in the 87th minute. Zirkzee capitalised on a cross from Alejandro Garnacho, managing to poke the ball past Fulham’s goalkeeper Bernd Leno, sparing the Red Devils from an underwhelming start to the season.
United manager Erik ten Hag, who managed to keep his job last season after winning the FA Cup despite finishing eighth in the Premier League, faced a familiar struggle. With key players missing due to injury and a lack of match fitness, Ten Hag admitted before the match that his team was “not ready” for the new campaign. This was evident as the Red Devils put in a performance reminiscent of last season’s inconsistent displays.
In the absence of summer signing Rasmus Højlund, Bruno Fernandes was deployed as a makeshift centre-forward, but the Portuguese midfielder was unable to find the net despite several opportunities. Meanwhile, Noussair Mazraoui, newly arrived from Bayern Munich, was thrown straight into the starting line-up at left-back.
Fulham, who won at Old Trafford for the first time in 20 years last season, started confidently. The visitors nearly took the lead in the first 20 minutes, but United’s goalkeeper Andre Onana did well to deny Kenny Tete’s dipping effort.
The Cottagers, however, were almost the architects of their own downfall when Bernd Leno’s sloppy pass was intercepted by Casemiro. The Brazilian midfielder set up Fernandes, who could only shoot directly at Leno, missing a golden opportunity to put United ahead.
United’s struggles in front of goal continued as they searched for a breakthrough. Casemiro, who had been a shadow of his former self last season, showed glimpses of his quality with a brilliant through ball to Fernandes, who once again failed to beat Leno from close range.
Mason Mount, who has struggled to find the back of the net since his move from Chelsea over a year ago, was also denied by Leno in the second half.
Ten Hag turned to his bench, bringing on Garnacho and Zirkzee in a bid to find a winner. This tactical gamble left United vulnerable at the back, and Fulham nearly capitalised. Andreas Pereira’s poor pass denied Alex Iwobi a clear run on goal, while Lisandro Martinez produced a vital clearance to prevent Pereira’s dangerous cross from reaching its target.
But it was United who finally broke the deadlock. Garnacho’s cross was far from perfect, but Zirkzee managed to get a toe on it, directing the ball into the far corner of the net. The Red Devils could have doubled their lead in stoppage time, but Garnacho missed an open goal from a Marcus Rashford pass.
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