Manchester United kicked off their 2024/25 Premier League campaign with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over Fulham at Old Trafford on August 16, 2024. The match was decided by a late goal from debutant Joshua Zirkzee, who came off the bench to score in the 87th minute.Zirkzee, a 23-year-old Dutch forward who recently joined United from Bologna for €44 million, made an immediate impact in his first appearance for the club. After entering the game as a substitute in the 60th minute, Zirkzee converted a cross from Alejandro Garnacho to secure the win. ‘To win here in my first home game and to grab a goal, it couldn’t be better,’ Zirkzee said after the match.The game was closely contested, with both teams creating chances throughout. Fulham’s goalkeeper Bernd Leno made several crucial saves, denying Bruno Fernandes twice in the first half. United’s new goalkeeper Andre Onana also impressed, making a spectacular reflex save to deny Tete’s shot.Manager Erik ten Hag, who had expressed concerns about his team’s readiness for the new season, made several tactical changes during the match. New signings Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt both made their debuts, with Mazraoui starting and de Ligt coming on as a substitute.Despite the victory, United’s performance was described as sluggish at times, reminiscent of their struggles last season. However, the win provides a solid foundation for the team to build upon as they look to improve on their 8th place finish from the previous season.
Key points
- Joshua Zirkzee scored a late winning goal on his Manchester United debut against Fulham.
- Manchester United won their Premier League opener 1-0 despite a sluggish performance.
- New signings Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt made their debuts for Manchester United.
- Erik ten Hag’s tactical changes in the second half proved crucial for the win.
