Joshua Zirkzee made an immediate impact on his Manchester United debut, scoring a late goal to secure a victory over Fulham in the Premier League opener. United, who invested £150 million in summer signings, saw their £36 million acquisition from Bologna deliver the decisive moment. Zirkzee turned in a cross from fellow substitute Alejandro Garnacho, sealing the win for Erik ten Hag’s side after a largely uninspired performance at Old Trafford.
Despite dominating possession, United struggled to break down Fulham, with Bruno Fernandes and Mason Mount coming closest to scoring before Zirkzee’s late intervention. Here are the five key takeaways from the match.
1. Ten Hag’s Strikerless Formation
When the team sheet was revealed, there was some curiosity about how United would line up. With Rasmus Hojlund unavailable and Zirkzee starting on the bench, Ten Hag opted for a strikerless formation, reminiscent of their FA Cup final setup last season. The formation featured Marcus Rashford and Amad out wide, with Fernandes and Mount making runs into the box.
While the system did create opportunities, particularly when Casemiro played Fernandes in for the best chance of the first half, it highlighted the importance of having a true center-forward. The first half, despite some promising moments, ultimately lacked cutting edge.
2. Adama Traore’s Threat
Fulham’s most dangerous moments came through Adama Traore on the right flank. The former Wolves winger’s pace was a constant threat to United’s defense, particularly in the early stages of the match. Traore’s ability to breeze past defenders, including Lisandro Martinez, created nervy moments for United.
Although Martinez eventually managed to contain Traore, the winger’s speed and directness remained a persistent challenge, especially with Diogo Dalot pushing high up on the left, leaving United vulnerable to counter-attacks.
3. United’s Vulnerability on the Counter
United’s narrow midfield setup has its advantages, such as aiding in pressing and creating overloads in the center of the pitch. However, it also exposed the team to counter-attacks, with Fulham capitalizing on turnovers when United were out of shape.
Fulham’s best chances came from these situations, including a missed opportunity by Andreas Pereira, who failed to connect with Alex Iwobi in a two-on-one situation with Harry Maguire. Ten Hag will need to address these defensive lapses to avoid costly mistakes as the season progresses.
4. Quiet Debuts for Bayern Munich Duo
New signings Noussair Mazraoui and Matthijs de Ligt made their debuts for United, but neither left a significant mark on the game. Mazraoui, starting at right-back instead of the anticipated left-back role, delivered a solid but unspectacular performance. Ten Hag will be eager for Luke Shaw’s return to avoid playing Dalot out of position.
De Ligt’s introduction as a second-half substitute also failed to inspire. His presence alongside Jonny Evans as United looked to close out the game was hardly confidence-boosting, underscoring the need for more dynamic options in defense.
5. Zirkzee’s Match-Winning Contribution
Bernd Leno appeared to have secured a point for Fulham with a strong performance in goal, but Zirkzee had other plans. Garnacho’s low cross found the 23-year-old, who managed to scuff the ball into the bottom corner, delivering the win for United.
Zirkzee, United’s first summer signing and perhaps the least high-profile, now has a golden opportunity to make his mark with Hojlund sidelined. His debut goal could be the start of something special, as he looks to prove his worth in the coming weeks.
