The opening game of the 2024/25 season was disappointing to say the least. Most of the players looked as if they were still on preseason and there were few exciting moments in attack for both teams. Manchester United were able to walk away with three points but that doesn’t reflect the full picture of the game. Fulham had chances but weren’t clinical enough, but saying that, United weren’t particularly clinical either. The game had a couple of stand out performers and more than a few flops but I’ve decided to narrow it down to one of each for each team.

Manchester United

Star - Joshua Zirkzee

When you score on your debut, it is hard to argue with an inclusion in a list like this. Joshua Zirkzee didn’t start the game, but he came on around the hour mark to provide a different threat for United. For a while he looked off the pace and even lost at times when dropping into the midfield, but his inclusion allowed Marcus Rashford to move more centrally at times and also gave support to Bruno Fernandes in the press.

Ladies and gentlemen: Joshua Zirkzee.#MUFC || #MUNFUL pic.twitter.com/0Wmvj3D9CW

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) August 16, 2024

In the 87th minute, he managed to find the winner by simply sticking his leg out to poke home a nice finish from an Alejandro Garnacho cross. Zirkzee however wasn’t just standing in the box waiting for the ball to reach him. He dropped deep to provide Bruno with an option before quickly moving the ball to the other side of the pitch with Casemiro and Garnacho. It shows that he is comfortable being a creator as well as a goalscorer and also that there is a real possibility that he could play alongside Rasmus Hojlund once the Dane returns from injury.

Flop - Alejandro Garnacho

It seems a bit harsh to include the only player in this game with an assist as the ‘flop’ for Manchester United, but when you miss an opportunity with over 0.7xG, there is no one else who could go here. Like Zirkzee, Garnacho came off the bench, replacing Amad Diallo on the right hand side. He too looked off the pace for a lot of the game, but he did win a few freekicks with his pace and quick feet.

He managed to provide this assist for Zirkzee late on, even though his cross was a little scuffed. Despite the goal coming so late, there was still time for another chance after Calvin Bassey misjudged his clearance and completely missed the ball, allowing Rashford through one on one with Bernd Leno. Instead of going for goal, Rashford decided to pass to Garnacho who only had to slot the ball into an empty net to score. The game finished 1-0.

Fulham

Star - Bernd Leno

There were three occasions before the goal that United had really good opportunities to score. The first came from a poor clearance from Bernd Leno, but he managed to make up for it by smothering Bruno’s shot with his body. The second came just before half time, and again the German goalkeeper denied the Manchester United captain. This time the chance came from a well worked attack through the United midfield before Bruno was released one on one. Leno managed to make the save with his foot on this occasion.

Big save from Bernd Leno.#MUNFUL | #TheKickOff pic.twitter.com/kU5iEAdlKC

— Premier League (@premierleague) August 16, 2024

The other clear cut opportunity came in the second half and it fell to Mason Mount, who probably needed a goal for his confidence. After some good work by Rashford, the ball came to Mount who couldn’t find the back of the net. Leno did well to cover the angle and snuff out the chance. If it wasn’t for Zirkzee’s good finish, the former Arsenal man would have earned his team a good point to start off the season.

Flop - Andreas Pereira

It was hard to decide who should be named as the Fulham flop. Bassey almost gave away an easy goal to United late on, but the chance was missed, Alex Iwobi struggled to create much from the left hand side of Fulham’s attack, and Emile Smith-Rowe had some good moments but ultimately failed to impress on his debut. In the end, I went with Andreas Pereira who managed to fumble the Cottagers’ best chance all game.

It was during the second half, and after Lisandro Martinez dove in on the halfway line, Harry Maguire was left two on one with both Pereira and Iwobi running at him. All Pereira had to do was play a simple pass across to Iwobi and Fulham would have been one-nil up. Instead he managed to find the only area on the pitch occupied by the Manchester United defender and the Red Devils were able to clear the ball successfully.