Sports Mole takes an in-depth look at how Fulham could line up for Friday’s Premier League opener against Man Utd.
Fulham return to top-flight action on Friday evening, as they open the Premier League’s 2024-25 season with a testing trip to Old Trafford.
Marco Silva‘s side will tackle Manchester United without several familiar faces, as midfield fulcrum Joao Palhinha has been followed out of Craven Cottage by defensive duo Tim Ream and Tosin Adarabioyo, plus Jamaica winger Bobby Decordova-Reid.
Nonetheless, record signing Emile Smith Rowe – who scored on his only previous Premier League start at the ‘Theatre of Dreams’ – is set to make his competitive debut for the club, and Ryan Sessegnon could be named on the bench following his return from Tottenham Hotspur.
Another new arrival, Jorge Cuenca, may not yet be ready to start, so Issa Diop and Calvin Bassey are likely to feature in central defence, with full-backs Timothy Castagne and Antonee Robinson either side of them.
Rodrigo Muniz – who scored nine league goals last term and has since been rewarded with Fulham’s number nine shirt – should beat Raul Jimenez to selection up front.
Ex-United midfielder Andreas Pereira is set to start in a playmaking role just behind his fellow Brazilian, but Willian‘s future remains uncertain so he may not be involved on Friday.
Given Palhinha’s absence from the engine room, Harrison Reed and Sasa Lukic should be paired in midfield, though club captain Tom Cairney may also be considered.
Fulham possible starting lineup: Leno; Castagne, Diop, Bassey, Robinson; Lukic, Reed; Iwobi, Pereira, Smith Rowe; Muniz
> Click here to see how Man Utd could line up for this Premier League contest
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