Joshua Zirkzee scored on debut to secure a win for Manchester United against Fulham on the opening day of the Premier League season. The Dutchman capitalized on a cross from fellow substitute Alejandro Garnacho to clinch the victory for Erik ten Hag’s side.

Fulham had appeared to be holding on for a draw before Zirkzee’s decisive goal. Rasmus Hojlund was unavailable, and Joshua Zirkzee was initially on the bench.

As a result, Ten Hag chose to employ the 4-2-2-2 formation, which had been tested previously. The strikerless formation took time to gain momentum, although it did demonstrate some functionality, especially when Casemiro set up Fernandes for a scoring opportunity in the first half.

Nonetheless, the absence of a center-forward was evident, and United struggled to create clear-cut chances. Fulham posed a threat on the counter-attack, with Traore’s pace causing concerns.

Dalot’s high positioning on the left also led to some nerve-wracking moments for United’s defense. Fulham capitalized on United’s disorganization on a few occasions, coming close to scoring.

Martinez made a crucial clearance after Garnacho attempted a dive, leaving United temporarily shorthanded. Ten Hag will need to address these defensive lapses to avoid potential consequences in the future.

Meanwhile, the Morocco international was deployed in his preferred right-back role. Matthijs de Ligt entered the game as a substitute in the second half but had minimal impact.

The substitutions of De Ligt and Jonny Evans at a time when United needed to push for a goal did not inspire confidence. Garnacho, seizing the opportunity presented by Hojlund’s absence, made an immediate impact with his goal.

His performance in the upcoming matches will be closely watched. Additionally, the community members are offered special promotions and advertisements.

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