We are one day out from the return of Premier League football, with Manchester United set to welcome Fulham to the North West.
Fresh off a summer of support from the Ineos hierarchy, Erik ten Hag is determined to spearhead an assault on his domestic rivals.
The Old Trafford faithful will inevitably demand a consistent showing following a forgettable eighth-place finish after a tumultuous season.
That said, fans enjoyed a distinctive style of play throughout the preseason tour, with a similar brand of entertaining attack-minded football continuing into the Community Shield.
There is an undeniable sense of positivity on the Red side of Manchester, with the signing of Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui only enhancing the feel-good vibes.
So, with a Friday night fixture under the lights only ample motivation to storm out of the blocks, what can we expect from the 20-time English champions?
A focus on the squad
Having endured more than 60 individual injuries throughout the 2023-24 calendar, Ten Hag begins tomorrow evening without Leny Yoro, Luke Shaw and Rasmus Hojlund.
Despite the natural frustration this supplies, the manager remains optimistic.
“The issues are there – but it’s not about the players who are not available,” Ten Hag told media at Carrington.
“Like I said last season, it’s about the players who are available, and we have a good group – we can make a strong selection, we can put out a strong team – so we will do. [De Ligt, Maguire and Mazraoui] will be in the squad.”
The Dutchman was quick to offer reassurance about Shaw, highlighting his confidence in a short-term return.
Joshua Zirkzee has yet to feature since his move from Bologna but is pressing for minutes.
The facts and figures
The Reds hold an imperious record against Marco Silva’s side, winning 24 of their 34 Premier League meetings and losing only four.
However, Fulham earned a 2-1 victory at Old Trafford on their last trip to the Theatre of Dreams in February.
Tomorrow’s meeting will be the fourth time United have hosted the Londoners on the opening day of the season, winning the previous three by an aggregate score of 9-3.
Amusingly, Ten Hag’s side will become the first in Premier League history to commence a season with a home fixture in eight consecutive campaigns.
There’s not long to wait, with action underway at 8 PM BST on Friday, 16 August.
How are you feeling about the tie and the season to come for Manchester United?
Let us know in the comments or across our social channels.
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