After an up-and-down pre-season, but an encouraging transfer window, the spotlight will once again fall on Manchester United, as they welcome Fulham for the opening night of the Premier League season at 20:00 tonight.
Reds fans will be hoping to see competitive debuts for new additions like Joshua Zirkzee, Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui, though £50m Leny Yoro misses out through injury.
The Cottagers will be no pushovers however, having beaten United at Old Trafford in dramatic fashion last season, courtesy of a late winner from Alex Iwobi.
Manchester United game today: five key facts vs Fulham
1) Last season's shock defeat
As mentioned above, Fulham claimed a major scalp against United last season, with a 2-1 win at Old Trafford.
United suffered several embarrassing results last season, but this was the first time in 15 years that they had fallen to a defeat at the Cottagers' hands, and 21 years since they lost to them on home ground.
Erik ten Hag will be desperate to avoid a repeat of last season.
2) Arsenal influence
Since their return to the Premier League in 2022, Fulham have accumulated a little core of former Arsenal players, with four former Gunners on their books.
Bernd Leno and Willian are two of the Cottagers' most experienced heads in the dressing room, and both played in the Gunners' 1-0 win at Old Trafford in 2020.
Alex Iwobi and Emile Smith Rowe are both Arsenal academy products, who will have a particular motivation to score against their boyhood club's old enemy.
In fact, both have already scored at the Theatre of Dreams. As mentioned above, Iwobi netted the winner last season, and new boy Smith Rowe scored the opener in Arsenal's 3-2 defeat in 2021.
3) Ajax connection
Since Manchester United appointed Erik ten Hag from Ajax in 2022, there has been a steady influx of former players of the Amsterdam club into Old Trafford, and this summer has been no exception.
A remarkable six players on United's books are former Ajax players: Andre Onana, Lisandro Martinez, Matthijs de Ligt, Noussair Mazraoui, Christian Eriksen and Antony all spent significant at the Dutch giants.
4) Injury crisis rumbles on
Last season, United were plagued by injury, with key men such as Martinez, Rasmus Hojlund, Raphael Varane, Luke Shaw and Mason Mount missing sizeable chunks of the season.
In fact, United had the most individual injuries in the Premier League last season, with a whopping 45.
Many Reds fans had hoped that this season could represent a fresh start for fitness, but pre-season has been bruising.
Harry Maguire, Jonny Evans, Tyrell Malacia, Victor Lindelof, Yoro, Shaw and Hojlund are all set to be missing from the matchday squad.
5) 18 years ago today: Beckham dropped at Old Trafford
On this day in 2006, Steve McLaren took charge of his first match in charge of the England national team.
The game was played at Old Trafford, as the new Wembley was still under construction. England defeated Greece 4-0, but McLaren infamously dropped the iconic David Beckham to the bench.
For more on this game, check out our in-depth preview and prediction.
