Played
August 25, 2012 10:00 AM EDT
Old Trafford — Manchester
Referee: K. Friend
Attendance: 75352
August 25, 2012 10:00 AM EDT
Old Trafford — Manchester
Referee: K. Friend
Attendance: 75352
Premier League Preview: Manchester United - Fulham
The former Arsenal captain came off the bench in the defeat at Everton, but he will be eyeing a starting role as Sir Alex Ferguson's men play their first home game of the season
By James Burford
Getty Images
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Manchester United's defensive woes are set to continue with Rio Ferdinand (groin), Jonny Evans (ankle), Phil Jones (back) and Chris Smalling (toe) all unavailable, meaning Michael Carrick will likely continue in central defence alongside Nemanja Vidic.
Darren Fletcher has returned to training, and featured in United's preseason friendly at Aberdeen, but a Premier League return is still thought to be a while off for the Scot.
Robin van Persie may jump from the substitutes bench into the first team. The Dutchman came on against Everton to make his debut for the club but could be handed a first start at home to the Cottagers.
Martin Jol's main issue continues to be the enforced absence of Clint Dempsey. The American did not feature in Fulham's opening day mauling of Norwich City, and is not expected to play at Old Trafford as he seeks a move away from the club.
The Dutch manager's only injury worries are Kerim Frei (pelvis) and Phillippe Senderos (foot), but he is unlikely to change the side, after their opening-day 5-0 win over the Canaries.
| PROBABLE LINEUPS |
|
MANCHESTER UNITED
 De Gea Valencia, Carrick, Vidic, Evra Nani, Cleverley, Kagawa, Young Van Persie, Rooney |
FULHAM  Schwarzer Riether, Hangeland, Hughes, Riise Ruiz, Diarra, Dembele, Duff Kacaniklic Petric |
Manchester United's defensive woes are set to continue with Rio Ferdinand (groin), Jonny Evans (ankle), Phil Jones (back) and Chris Smalling (toe) all unavailable, meaning Michael Carrick will likely continue in central defence alongside Nemanja Vidic.
Darren Fletcher has returned to training, and featured in United's preseason friendly at Aberdeen, but a Premier League return is still thought to be a while off for the Scot.
Robin van Persie may jump from the substitutes bench into the first team. The Dutchman came on against Everton to make his debut for the club but could be handed a first start at home to the Cottagers.
Martin Jol's main issue continues to be the enforced absence of Clint Dempsey. The American did not feature in Fulham's opening day mauling of Norwich City, and is not expected to play at Old Trafford as he seeks a move away from the club.
The Dutch manager's only injury worries are Kerim Frei (pelvis) and Phillippe Senderos (foot), but he is unlikely to change the side, after their opening-day 5-0 win over the Canaries.
| DID YOU KNOW? |
On two of the three occasions that Manchester United has lost on the opening day, it has gone on to win the title.
- Manchester United's last home game was a 2-0 victory over Swansea City, where Ashley Young and Paul Scholes (right) got the goals.
- Ryan Giggs is now entering his 22nd season with Manchester United.
- Fulham's last victory over Manchester United came in 2009 at Craven Cottage where Danny Murphy, Bobby Zamora and Damien Duff made it 3-0.
- The Londoners haven't been on the winning side at Old Trafford for nine years, since 2003.
- So far in 2012, John Arne Riise has assisted on more Premier League goals than any other left back.
Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
-
Manchester United 3-0 Fulham
- 20.25 %
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Manchester United 2-0 Fulham
- 13.06 %
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Manchester United 3-1 Fulham
- 10.74 %
| English Premier League (EPL) (EPL) | Feb 2, 2013 | Fulham 0 - Manchester United 1 |
|
| FA Cup (FA) | Jan 26, 2013 | Manchester United 4 - Fulham 1 |
|
| English Premier League (EPL) (EPL) | Aug 25, 2012 | Manchester United 3 - Fulham 2 |
|
| English Premier League (EPL) (EPL) | Mar 26, 2012 | Manchester United 1 - Fulham 0 |
|
| English Premier League (EPL) (EPL) | Dec 21, 2011 | Fulham 0 - Manchester United 5 |
|
Manchester United
     |
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| May 19, 2013 | West Bromwich 5 - Manchester United 5 | EPL |
| May 12, 2013 | Manchester United 2 - Swansea City 1 | EPL |
| May 5, 2013 | Manchester United 0 - Chelsea 1 | EPL |
| Apr 28, 2013 | Arsenal 1 - Manchester United 1 | EPL |
| Apr 22, 2013 | Manchester United 3 - Aston Villa 0 | EPL |
Fulham
 |
||
| May 19, 2013 | Swansea City 0 - Fulham 3 | EPL |
| May 12, 2013 | Fulham 1 - Liverpool 3 | EPL |
| May 4, 2013 | Fulham 2 - Reading 4 | EPL |
| Apr 27, 2013 | Everton 1 - Fulham 0 | EPL |
| Apr 20, 2013 | Fulham 0 - Arsenal 1 | EPL |
| 1 | David de Gea | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Rafael | Defender |
| 3 | Patrice Evra | Defender |
| 15 | Nemanja Vidic | Defender |
| 7 | Antonio Valencia | Midfielder |
| 8 | Anderson | Midfielder |
| 16 | Michael Carrick | Midfielder |
| 18 | Ashley Young | Midfielder |
| 23 | Tom Cleverley | Midfielder |
| 20 | Robin van Persie | Striker |
| 26 | Shinji Kagawa | Midfielder |
| 13 | Anders Lindegaard | Goalkeeper |
| 6 | Jonny Evans | Defender |
| 11 | Ryan Giggs | Midfielder |
| 22 | Paul Scholes | Midfielder |
| 10 | Wayne Rooney | Striker |
| 14 | Chicharito | Striker |
| 19 | Danny Welbeck | Striker |
| 1 | Mark Schwarzer | Goalkeeper |
| 5 | Brede Hangeland | Defender |
| 28 | Matthew Briggs | Defender |
| 18 | Aaron Hughes | Defender |
| 20 | Sascha Riether | Midfielder |
| 16 | Damien Duff | Midfielder |
| 19 | Mahamadou Diarra | Midfielder |
| 19 | Moussa Dembele | Striker |
| 31 | Alexander Kacaniklic | Midfielder |
| 10 | Mladen Petric | Striker |
| 11 | Bryan Ruiz | Striker |
| - | David Stockdale | Goalkeeper |
| 2 | Stephen Kelly | Defender |
| 6 | Chris Baird | Defender |
| 5 | Rafik Halliche | Defender |
| 4 | Steve Sidwell | Midfielder |
| 10 | Pajtim Kasami | Midfielder |
| 20 | Hugo Rodallega | Striker |
Results
Times In EDT
Live
Final
scheduled
Suspended
Cancelled
Postponed
