Joshua Zirkzee got his Manchester United career off to the perfect start by scoring late on in the 1-0 win over Fulham. The Red Devils looked to be heading for a first goalless draw with the Cottagers in 100 years on Friday night, only for summer signing Zirkzee to poke home in the 87th minute. Zirkzee - a £36million arrival from Atalanta - came off the bench to get on the end of Bruno Fernandes' cross to steer the ball home into the bottom left corner in what was just his seventh touch.
The result means that United have now won a record-extending 22 Premier League opening day wins to briefly send them to the top of the table. And they set a Premier League record merely by stepping onto the grass at the Theatre of Dreams against Fulham. Their home game on the first day of the 2024/25 season means that of the last 11 Premier League seasons, United have started ten at Old Trafford.
In fact, their last eight season openers have all been played at home and this has seen them become the first side in Premier League history to start a campaign with a home game in eight seasons consecutively. United have also exacted revenge on Fulham, who left it late to win 2-1 at Old Trafford last season. It was the Red Devils' first defeat of 2024 - and they can count themselves lucky Fulham didn't make the most of their numerous second half chances this time around.
Marco Silva's men were a constant threat on the counter, but they failed to find the final killer ball - and they were made to pa.