ALEX CROOK PREVIEW: Manchester United v Fulham

Old Trafford is the setting for the big Premier League kick-off as Manchester United host Fulham in the first game of what promises to be another enthralling season at both ends of the table, writes ALEX CROOK.

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After clinging onto his job by virtue of winning the FA Cup, the pressure is already on manager Erik Ten Hag to prove his many critics wrong and United missed the chance to pick up a morale-boosting victory over champions Manchester City when they lost last weekend’s Community Shield on penalties despite dominating much of the game.

There was plenty to admire about United’s Wembley display, albeit against a City team who by Pep Guardiola’s own admission were a little undercooked, but the lack of ruthlessness in the final third was evident for all to see.

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With Rasmus Hojlund still sidelined, the hosts are likely to start their league campaign without a recognised striker in their ranks so the pressure will be on the likes of captain Bruno Fernandes, fresh from signing a new contract to weigh in with the goals.

Fernandes is 6/1 with starsports.bet to score the first goal, which considering he is on penalty-taking duty looks to represent decent value.

Alejandro Garnacho came off the bench to net brilliantly against City and big things are expected of him this season.

The Argentine, who bagged a dramatic stoppage-time winner at Craven Cottage a couple of seasons ago, is pushing for a start ahead of Marcus Rashford or Amad Diallo and Garnacho to score at any time at 2/1 with starsports.bet is the first part of my build-a-bet.

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Fulham had lost all of their previous 24 visits to the Theatre of Dreams before a dramatic 2-1 victory last season, but never in their history have the Cottagers recorded back-to-back wins in this fixture.

They have also sold talismanic midfielder Joao Palhinha to Bayern Munich which has left them looking more than a little light in a key area of the pitch, but United are in the process of rebuilding their defence so I think Marco Silva’s men are capable of getting on the scoresheet.

Emile Smith-Rowe will make his competitive bow after a big-money move across London from Arsenal. The midfielder has a good eye for goal and Smith-Rowe is a tempting 17/4 with starsports.bet to mark his debut in the grand fashion by scoring at any time.

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It will be fascinating to see if ten Hag throws former Bayern Munich pair Matthijs de Ligt and Noussair Mazraoui straight into the action, but even with Hojlund, Luke Shaw and summer signing Leny Yoro unavailable due to injury I expect the hosts to get their campaign off to a winning opening.

A build-a-bet of Manchester United to win, Alejandro Garnacho to score at any time and both teams to score returns just shy of 5/1 with starsports.bet.

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BACK Bruno Fernandes to score first 1pt at 6/1 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW)
BACK Emile Smith-Rowe to score at any time 0.5pts at 17/4 (⭐ ? CLICK TO BET NOW
Build-a-bet: Manchester United to win, Alejandro Garnacho to score at any time and both teams to score 1pt at 5/1 with starsports.bet

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