(Football news) Old Trafford plays host as the 2024-25 campaign gets under way, with Manchester United aiming to improve after a turbulent year both on and off the pitch.

For the 10th time in 11 seasons, Manchester United begin their league campaign on home turf – Fulham’s visit on Friday will make it a Premier League record eight years on the spin – and pressure is already loaded on Erik ten Hag’s team.

After a miserable time in the top flight and Europe last term, a slight ray of sunshine broke through the gloom as United beat neighbours Manchester City to lift the FA Cup, but that result was reversed in their first competitive fixture of the new season.

Manchester United lost to their city rivals in Saturday’s FA Community Shield, narrowly missing out on more silverware at Wembley by following a 1-1 draw in the curtain-raiser with penalty-shootout defeat.

Not only has Ten Hag kept his job despite much speculation and behind-the-scenes manoeuvres from Manchester United’s ambitious new owners, but he has also been joined by some familiar faces for the upcoming campaign.

In addition to returning hero Ruud van Nistelrooy partnering his fellow Dutchman in the dugout, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui have just arrived to bolster an injury-hit defensive department.

Mixed results in pre-season – which featured three defeats from five matches, including a 3-0 loss to Liverpool in the USA – have caused some concern, but the 20-time English champions are now honing in on their first league fixture.

On home soil last season, Manchester United suffered six defeats in 19 top-flight contests; that included one to Friday’s opening opponents, who they had previously lost to just three times in 33 Premier League meetings.

Fulham had been beaten in 24 of those encounters before winning 2-1 at Old Trafford in February, and they are now aiming to post consecutive away victories against Manchester United for the very first time.

While United have been busy recruiting new players, the Cottagers are still rebuilding following the summer exits of Tosin Adarabioyo, Joao Palhinha and long-serving defender Tim Ream.

Marco Silva’s side ultimately ended the 2023-24 season in 13th place, as the ex-Everton boss snubbed a lucrative contract with Saudi Pro League club Al-Ahli and opted to stay in England.

Often impressive at Craven Cottage but somewhat flaky when on the road, his team won two of their last three away games last term – drawing the other – which doubled their tally of successes from the first 16.

Furthermore, three of Fulham’s last four league meetings with Manchester United have been won by the away side, each courtesy of a late winner, and Silva is unbeaten in nine opening-day matches – so precedent points towards a positive result on Friday.

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