Marco Silva speaks to Sky Sports. “There are not going to be any surprises from Manchester United, I know how they are going to line up … it is always possible to improve … we lost four or five key players … starting XI players … but we made three signings … the pre-season has been really good … some really good games … we need some new signings to make an impact … we are going to sign more players … one player for [the departed João Palhinha’s] position … [Emile Smith Rowe] is going to give us something extra in the pocket areas … I am delighted to have him with us.”

History suggests Fulham are up against it tonight. They’ve played Manchester United on 91 previous occasions, winning just 15 times and losing 56. They’ve only won at Old Trafford twice in the last 50 years. But – and in football there’s always a but, isn’t there – one of those two wins came just six months ago, and fully deserved it was too. Here’s a reminder of what happened.

Pre-season reading. Get it while your optimism levels remain at 110 percent.

A relaxed Erik ten Hag speaks to Sky Sports. “Of course we are ready … we are very excited for the new season … we want to go forward … we have a strong belief we can go forward … we developed young players … they are more mature … they really contribute … it fits the DNA of Manchester United … proactive, dynamic, speed … we worked a lot on [4-2-2-2] last season … it fits very good for us … always you have to do things better … we improved in the last games of last season and pre-season … I am happy with the process we are now in … [Mazraoui] is quick, good agility, and can contribute to your build-up and attacking game … he can go forward and is quite good on the ball … we can’t stand still [on transfers] … it depends what happens in the market … but I am happy with the squad … I am quite confident for this season … there is a lot of communication [with the new sporting directors] so we are all on one page and on board … it feels good … a good vibe in the club as well as the team … a good start is important … a good foundation for the rest of the season … not everything will be 100 percent but we must get a result, get a win.”

Manchester United give a full debut to their new right-back Noussair Mazraoui. The club’s other available summer signings, Matthijs de Ligt and Joshua Zirkzee, are on the bench.

Fulham also have a debutant in their starting XI: Emile Smith Rowe. Jorge Cuenca, freshly signed from Villarreal, is on the bench.

The teams

Preamble