Leicester pushed Tottenham boss Ange Postecoglou closer to the exit door with a 2-1 win that extended Spurs’ dismal run, while Manchester United’s 1-0 victory at Fulham eased the pressure on Ruben Amorim. Tottenham blew the lead on home turf as they crumbled to a sixth defeat in their last seven league games. With only one win in their last 11 top-flight matches, Postecoglou’s side are languishing in 15th place, just eight points above the bottom three. It was another woeful result for the beleaguered Australian, who has faced mounting calls for his dismissal throughout a turbulent second season in charge.

Tottenham are dangerously close to being sucked into the relegation battle but Postecoglou believes his injury-ravaged squad are still fighting for him.

“When you are the manager of a football club, you can be very vulnerable and isolated. I don’t feel that,” said Postecoglou.

“I feel like this group of players, not for me, are giving everything for the club. I have a group of staff that is really committed. I focus on that.”

Richarlison had headed the home side in front but two goals in four minutes at the start of the second half from Jamie Vardy and Bilal El Khannouss ended Leicester’s seven-game losing streak in the league.

While Postecoglou fights to save his job, Leicester manager Ruud van Nistelrooy can breathe a little easier over his own future.

Leicester are now one place and one point above the relegation zone.

“It’s a massive win,” said Van Nistelrooy. “The players are buying into it. I can only be very proud of this team.”

Man Utd’s lucky break

Any notion United could be dragged into a relegation battle now appears gone after Lisandro Martinez’s deflected strike ground out a much-needed victory at Fulham for the Red Devils.

Chances were at a premium for both sides until the Argentinian’s effort flicked off Sasa Lukic to loop over Bernd Leno.

Joachim Andersen had a header cleared off the line by Toby Collyer as the visitors held out for a victory which lifts United up to 12th.

Aston Villa’s hopes of Champions League qualification for a second consecutive season were dented as an under-strength West Ham battled back to earn a 1-1 draw in Birmingham.

Jacob Ramsey’s strike was just reward for a fast start by Unai Emery’s side.

Graham Potter was forced to name four full-backs in his starting line-up for the injury-hit Hammers, who were without captain Jarrod Bowen.

However, the visitors rallied in the second half and were unfortunate not to take all three points after Emerson Palmieri’s header levelled.

Lucas Paqueta thought he had won the game in stoppage time, but Tomas Soucek had strayed offside before teeing up the Brazilian to quell Potter’s jubilant celebration on the touchline.

Villa remain in eighth, four points off the top four, while West Ham sit 14th.

Brentford benefitted from penalty controversy to beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at Selhurst Park. 

Thomas Frank’s team earned a 66th minute spot-kick when Maxence Lacroix fouled Nathan Collins.

Bryan Mbeumo’s spot-kick hit the post, but Palace’s reprieve was short-lived as VAR ruled Marc Guehi had encroached before the shot.

The Brentford forward gratefully accepted his second chance by sending Palace keeper Dean Henderson the wrong way for his 14th goal this season.

Kevin Schade netted in the 80th minute for Brentford before Palace winger Romain Esse came off the bench to score with his first touch on his debut five minutes later.

Raul Jimenez scored two penalties as Fulham twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with relegation-threatened Ipswich at Craven Cottage on Sunday. Sam Szmodics put the visitors ahead in the 38th minute, with Jimenez levelling from the spot midway through the second period. Liam Delap restored Ipswich’s lead with another penalty but Jimenez had the final say in stoppage time. The result leaves Ipswich third from bottom of the table after falling agonisingly short of recording two consecutive league wins for the first time this season.

Mid-table Fulham enjoyed the lion’s share of possession in the first half but Ipswich broke the deadlock against the run of play with their first chance of note. 

Delap surged forward and fed Leif Davis, whose cross was headed onto the bar by overlapping right-back Ben Johnson. After a scramble to clear the danger, Szmodics was on hand to crash the ball off Calvin Bassey and past Bernd Leno.

It took until the 69th minute for the Cottagers to get back on level terms. Harry Wilson found a pocket of space once more following Rodrigo Muniz’s pass and was brought down inside the box by Sam Morsy. 

Referee Darren Bond initially said no penalty but changed his original decision after a VAR check and Jimenez stepped up to slot his spot-kick to Christian Walton’s left.

Delap put Ipswich back ahead just two minutes later after he was fouled by Timothy Castagne and they went close to a third when substitute Jack Clarke struck a post.

But Fulham continued to probe for an equaliser and it arrived in the first minute of stoppage time. 

Jimenez picked himself up after being fouled by Davis and coolly found the top-right corner to secure his side a share of the spoils.

“When you lead twice you always feel a little bit disappointed not to win,” Ipswich boss Kieran McKenna told Sky Sports.

“I’m so proud of the way we played. We had some chances to get a two-goal margin but weren’t able to take them.”

Fulham boss Marco Silva praised the performance of Jimenez, who now has eight Premier League goals this season.

“He showed the character and the calmness,” he said. “There are many positives I take from the game. In some moments we cannot concede like we did and we have been punished by some mistakes.

“Everybody can talk about European hopes. I prefer our team to speak on the pitch. If you want to be fighting you have to be much more ruthless and aggressive.”

Fulham scored twice in the final 10 minutes to end Chelsea’s 12-game unbeaten run in all competitions with a stunning 2-1 Premier League win at Stamford Bridge. Substitutes Harry Wilson and Rodrigo Muniz shocked the Blues to secure Fulham’s first away win at their west London rivals since 1979. Defeat leaves second-placed Chelsea still four points adrift of leaders Liverpool, who have two games in hand over their nearest challengers, starting with the visit of Leicester later on Thursday. Victory lifts Fulham up to eighth, level on points with champions Manchester City, and within just one point of fifth-placed Newcastle to further their European ambitions for next season.

“It is a privilege to give our fans this happiness,” said Fulham boss Marco Silva.

“Second half the reaction was top. It is not a coincidence that we are the team in the Premier League that has got the most goals from players off the bench.”

Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca has insisted in recent weeks that his young side are not yet cut out for a title challenge despite their fine form.

And the home side proved their manager’s point after failing to build on a dream start given to them by the class of Cole Palmer.

There did not look to be much on when Levi Colwill played the ball into Palmer’s feet about 40 yards out.

But the England star burst into life, turning away from Andreas Pereira and gliding past Sasa Lukic towards the edge of the box.

Palmer then applied the finish, nonchalantly passing the ball through the legs of defender Issa Diop and into the corner of Bernd Leno‘s goal.

It was Palmer’s 26th league strike of 2024, beating the Chelsea record for Premier League goals scored in a calendar year set by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in 2001.

“We were winning for most of the game, but to lose at the end is difficult,” said Palmer.

“Second half we lost a bit of control. They’re a good transition team and like to run direct, we got caught up in their game and paid the price.”

Palmer almost bagged a second moments after opening the scoring, with a nutmeg on the edge of the box followed by a low drive which was well kept out by Leno.

Fulham’s German goalkeeper also made important saves to prevent Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernandez adding to Chelsea’s lead either side of half-time.

Silva’s men have now taken points from Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea this month and the Portuguese’s changes turned the tide in the visitors’ favour.

Eight minutes from time another substitute Tom Cairney‘s cross was headed across goal by Timothy Castagne and Wilson glanced in at the far post.

Both sides had chances to win it in a wild finale, but it was Fulham who took theirs in the 95th minute to claim a famous victory.

Lukic surged forward from midfield and squared for Muniz to coolly slot into the bottom corner in front of the delighted travelling support.

Manchester United crashed to a humiliating 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth, while Chelsea missed the chance to go top of the Premier League after a 0-0 draw at Everton on Sunday. United boss Ruben Amorim, who once again left Marcus Rashford out of his squad, is set for a miserable Christmas following the worst result of his brief reign. Languishing in 13th place, United have suffered four defeats in nine matches in all competitions since Amorim arrived from Sporting Lisbon in November to replace the sacked Erik ten Hag.

United’s second successive loss after their League Cup exit at Tottenham on Thursday underlined Amorim’s belief that their road back to the top will be long and arduous.

United, who have conceded first in their last six games, were booed off at half-time, while the final whistle was greeted by more jeers from the few fans who stayed until the bitter end.

While it is far too early to pass judge on Amorim, the Portuguese coach cannot afford many more results like this if he is to keep the players and fans on his side.

Amorim’s decision to play without Rashford for the third consecutive game will face fresh scrutiny after United’s wretched performance.

Amorim surprisingly omitted the 27-year-old England forward from the squad for United’s win at Manchester City last weekend, prompting Rashford to hint he was willing to leave the club for a “new challenge”.

Rashford was at Old Trafford wearing a United tracksuit amid his extended exile as Amorim made six changes from the line-up beaten 4-3 by Tottenham in the League Cup quarter-finals.

Again, United were exposed at set-pieces in the 29th minute when Bournemouth’s teenage defender Dean Huijsen punished poor marking at a free-kick to glance a header past Andre Onana.

There was even worse to come for Amorim in the second half as Justin Kluivert doubled fifth-placed Bournemouth’s advantage with a 61st minute penalty following Noussair Mazraoui’s foul on the forward.

Antoine Semenyo compounded United’s misery two minutes later with a cool finish from Dango Ouattara’s pass.

With leaders Liverpool playing at Tottenham in Sunday’s late game, second-placed Chelsea would have gone top, for at least a few hours, if they had won at Everton.

But Enzo Maresca‘s side had to settle for a goalless stalemate that ended their five-match winning run in the league.

Chelsea sit one point behind Liverpool who have two games in hand on the Blues, starting with their trip to Tottenham.

It was an encouraging start to a new era for Everton — four points clear of the relegation zone — under new owners the Friedkin Group, whose purchase brought an end to Farhad Moshiri’s tumultuous tenure.

Everton’s new executive chairman Marc Watts was in attendance at Goodison Park to see Chelsea come closest to winning when Nicolas Jackson’s first-half header hit the post.

Wolves boss Vitor Pereira enjoyed a dream debut as his side won 3-0 at relegation rivals Leicester.

Replacing the sacked Gary O’Neil, former Porto boss Pereira left his role at Saudi Pro League side Al-Shabab to fulfil his dream of managing in England.

Goncalo Guedes started the Pereira era with a flourish as he met Nelson Semedo’s cross with an agile finish in the 19th minute.

As if that welcome gift from his fellow Portuguese wasn’t enough, Pereira received another present from a compatriot in the 36th minute when Rodrigo Gomes slid in to notch his first goal for Wolves.

Matheus Cunha’s 44th minute strike from Guedes’ pass ensured third-bottom Wolves would move within two points of fourth-bottom Leicester.

Bottom-of-the-table Southampton held on for a 0-0 draw at Fulham as new manager Ivan Juric watched from the stands.

Juric, axed by Roma in November after just 12 games, was not in charge on Sunday as he awaited a work permit to replace Russell Martin.

Southampton are eight points adrift of safety with only one win from 17 league games.

Diogo Jota rescued Liverpool as the Premier League leaders recovered from Andy Robertson’s early red card to snatch a 2-2 draw with Fulham, while Arsenal’s title challenge was dented by a goalless stalemate against Everton on Saturday. With just four minutes left at Anfield, Arne Slot’s side were in danger of losing for just the second time in 15 top-flight games this season. But Jota grabbed a valuable equaliser as Liverpool extended their unbeaten run in all competitions to 19 matches since a loss to Nottingham Forest in September.

With last weekend’s Merseyside derby at Everton postponed by severe weather, Liverpool have now gone two league games without a win following their 3-3 draw at Newcastle.

The Reds sit five points clear of second-placed Chelsea, who can close the gap with a win against Brentford at Stamford Bridge on Sunday.

Liverpool were rocked in the 11th minute as Fulham midfielder Andreas Pereira met Antonee Robinson’s cross with an agile volley that deflected in off Robertson.

The Reds suffered another blow when Scotland left-back Robertson was sent off in the 17th minute for a professional foul on Harry Wilson.

But Slot’s men have made a habit of coming from behind this season and Cody Gakpo equalised in the 47th minute with a stooping header from Mohamed Salah‘s cross.

The Dutch forward’s ninth goal in all competitions this season was the prelude to a period of sustained Liverpool pressure.

But Fulham forward Rodrigo Muniz delivered a sucker punch as he bundled over the line from Robinson’s cross in the 76th minute.

That set the stage for a dramatic finale as Jota levelled in the 86th minute with a cool finish past Bernd Leno from the edge of the area.

Arsenal failed to take advantage of Liverpool’s rare stumble as the Gunners were kept at bay on a frustrating afternoon at the Emirates Stadium.

Lack of firepower

The north Londoners have become a force from set-pieces, scoring 23 goals from corners since the start of last season.

But their lack of firepower outside of that route has been questioned this season and once again they were hampered by a failure to turn pressure and possession into goals.

After a second successive league draw, third-placed Arsenal remain six points behind Liverpool, who have a game in hand on last season’s runners-up.

Newcastle handed Ruud van Nistelrooy his first defeat as Leicester boss with a 4-0 rout at St James’ Park.

Former Manchester United striker Nistelrooy had taken four points from his first two games since replacing the sacked Steve Cooper.

But Newcastle ended that encouraging start as Jacob Murphy drilled a clinical finish into the bottom corner from the edge of the area in the 30th minute.

Bruno Guimaraes nodded in Newcastle’s second goal in the 47th minute after Lewis Hall headed Anthony Gordon‘s free-kick toward the Brazilian.

Alexander Isak bagged the Magpies’ third two minutes later with a close-range finish and Murphy struck again on the hour to leave Leicester two points above the relegation zone.

Jack Taylor’s stoppage-time goal gave Ipswich a priceless 2-1 win over relegation rivals Wolves at Molineux.

Kieran McKenna’s team went ahead through Matt Doherty‘s 15th minute own goal after Wolves made a hash of clearing Liam Delap’s cross.

Just as Wolves fans were calling for chairman Jeff Shi and owners Fosun to sell the club, Matheus Cunha grabbed a 72nd minute equaliser as his shot beat Arijanet Muric’s weak attempted save.

But Taylor headed home from a 94th minute corner to seal Ipswich’s second league win since their promotion to the top tier.

Third-bottom Ipswich are just one point adrift of safety, while second-bottom Wolves are three points behind them after an 11th loss in 16 league games piled further pressure on boss Gary O’Neil.

Nottingham Forest host Aston Villa in a battle of top four contenders in Saturday’s late game.

Arsenal missed the chance to close to within four points of Premier League leaders Liverpool after being held to a 1-1 draw at Fulham on Sunday. Bukayo Saka had a late winner ruled out by a VAR review for offside as the Gunners’ four-match winning streak was halted in west London. Raul Jimenez had fired Fulham into an early lead before William Saliba levelled thanks to another Arsenal goal from a corner. Mikel Arteta‘s men edge above Chelsea into second, six points adrift of Liverpool, who have a game in hand after their clash at Everton on Saturday was postponed due to high winds.

Chelsea can move back into second should they avoid defeat at Tottenham later on Sunday.

Arsenal were still without influential defensive duo Gabriel Magalhaes and Riccardo Calafiori through injury and Fulham exposed a makeshift left side of the Gunners’ backline to take the lead.

Kenny Tete’s ball in behind was pounced on by Jimenez, who drove forward and fired brilliantly across David Raya into the far corner on 11 minutes.

The opening goal came against the run of play and thereafter Fulham were forced back by an Arsenal side desperate to kickstart their bid for a first title in over 20 years.

Saka’s shot was comfortably saved by Bernd Leno in the visitors’ best effort of the first half.

Arsenal’s threat from set-pieces was already well publicised before they scored twice from corners to beat Manchester United 2-0 in midweek.

Yet, for all their preparations, Fulham were still powerless to prevent the corner kings.

Saliba stabbed home Kai Havertz‘s header from close range for Arsenal’s 23rd goal from corners since the beginning of last season.

Another corner should have led to the winner but Thomas Partey nodded wide when unmarked from another pinpoint Declan Rice delivery.

Saka did head in at the back post as stoppage time approached, but Gabriel Martinelli had strayed offside before supplying the cross.

Ruud van Nistelrooy’s Leicester struck twice late on to deny Brighton in a 2-2 draw at the King Power.

Tariq Lamptey opened the scoring in spectacular fashion with a looping effort into the top corner from outside the box on 37 minutes.

Yankuba Minteh looked to have sealed the three points for the Seagulls 11 minutes from time.

But Jamie Vardy started the comeback on 86 minutes before teeing up Bobby De Cordova-Reid to snatch a point in stoppage time.

Bournemouth also scored twice in the dying minutes to deny Ipswich a first home win in the top flight for 22 years in a 2-1 win at Portman Road.

Conor Chaplin put Ipswich in front, but the Cherries move up to eighth after substitutes Enes Unal and Dango Ouattara turned the game around in the final three minutes plus stoppage time.

Ipswich remain four points adrift of safety in the bottom three.

Liverpool beat Crystal Palace 1-0 to remain top of the Premier League as Arsenal and Manchester City came from behind to win on Saturday. City were 3-2 victors over Fulham to stay one point behind Liverpool, alongside Arsenal who saw off Southampton 3-1. Arne Slot has now won nine of his first 10 games since succeeding Jurgen Klopp as Liverpool manager, but was frustrated that the visitors invited a late onslaught from the winless Eagles. Jota prodded the Reds into the lead from Cody Gakpo’s cross on nine minutes.

The Portuguese international was then guilty of missing two big chances to extend Liverpool’s advantage.

Palace failed to make them pay, but victory came at a cost for Slot as goalkeeper Alisson Becker limped off with a hamstring injury.

“If you score the second you break them mentally,” said Slot. “All the fans kept believing in a result because it was only 1-0, even though in my opinion we were the dominant team.”

Fresh from a dominant win over Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League, Arsenal were expected to sweep aside winless Southampton.

But the Saints shocked the Emirates 10 minutes into the second half when Cameron Archer fired in his first Premier League goal since a summer move from Aston Villa.

The lead only lasted three minutes before Kai Havertz scored for the seventh consecutive home game.

Gabriel Martinelli was introduced after an hour and took just eight minutes to make his mark with a finish on the volley from Bukayo Saka’s cross.

Having set up Arsenal’s first two goals, Saka pounced on a loose ball to score the third himself.

Fulham’s outrageous opener

Rodri‘s season-long absence due to a serious knee injury is expected to be a major blow to City’s chances of retaining the title for a fifth consecutive season.

But it was the Spaniard’s deputy Mateo Kovacic who scored twice to turn the game around for the champions at the Etihad.

The visitors had not lost since the opening night of the season at Manchester United and led thanks to Andreas Pereira’s finish from an outrageous backheel assist by Raul Jimenez.

Kovacic’s deflected effort quickly brought City level before a cleaner strike less than two minutes into the second half made it 2-1.

Jeremy Doku then smashed into the top corner from outside the box to give City a two-goal cushion, which they needed.

Rodrigo Muniz gave Fulham hope on 88 minutes, but City held out for a 17th consecutive win against the Cottagers.

West Ham eased the pressure on new boss Julen Lopetegui by ending a run of three home defeats to start the new season.

Michail Antonio, Mohammed Kudus, Jarrod Bowen and Lucas Paqueta struck for the Hammers in a 4-1 win over Ipswich, who are still waiting for their first Premier League win 22 years.

There were six goals before half-time as Brentford beat Wolves 5-3 to leave the visitors still rooted to the foot of the table.

Leicester secured their first league win of the season as Facundo Buonanotte’s strike beat Bournemouth 1-0.

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag faces a huge match if he is to remain in charge when the Red Devils visit Aston Villa in the pick of Sunday’s action.

Manchester United crashed to a last-gasp 2-1 defeat against Brighton and an Erling Haaland’s hat-trick fired Premier League champions Manchester City to a 4-1 win against Ipswich on Saturday. Erik ten Hag’s side were left shell-shocked by Joao Pedro‘s winner five minutes into stoppage-time at the Amex Stadium. United fell behind to a 32nd minute goal from Danny Welbeck, who poked in Kaoru Mitoma’s cross for his sixth goal in 16 appearances against his former club. Amad Diallo equalised for United after an hour, cutting inside for a shot that deflected in off Brighton defender Jan Paul van Hecke.

Joshua Zirkzee prevented Alejandro Garnacho from putting the visitors ahead in the closing stages when the United forward touched home his team-mate’s finish on the line.

Zirkzee, a close-season signing from Bologna, was in an offside position and VAR ruled out the goal.

Left completely unmarked at the far post, Brazilian striker Pedro rubbed salt into United’s wounds as he headed home from Simon Adingra’s cross to ensure Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler maintained his 100 per cent start following last weekend’s win at Everton.

The 31-year-old German is the youngest permanent manager in Premier League history after arriving from St Pauli to replace Roberto De Zerbi in the close-season.

“My team deserved to win. These moments make memories and we have to enjoy it,” Hurzeler said.

Ten Hag added: “Both goals are very soft. As a team, we should have done better. We have to be more clinical in both boxes.”

At the Etihad Stadium, City scored three times in four minutes to survive an early scare against promoted Ipswich.

Sammie Szmodics, signed from Blackburn in the close-season, gave Ipswich a shock lead in the seventh minute, running on to Omari Hutchinson’s pass and squeezing his shot through Ederson‘s legs.

City levelled when Leif Davis’s 12th minute foul on Savinho conceded a penalty that Haaland dispatched with ease.

Ipswich keeper Arijanet Muric spent four years with City before leaving in 2022 and he returned with a gift for his old club, dwelling in possession in the 14th minute as Kevin De Bruyne stole the ball and slotted home.

Unstoppable Haaland

City made it three when the unstoppable Haaland flicked De Bruyne’s deft pass past Muric.

German midfielder Ilkay Gundogan came off the bench for City in the second half after rejoining his former club from Barcelona on a one-year contract on Friday.

Haaland completed his treble in the 88th minute with a typically predatory finish for his fourth goal already this season.

Tottenham midfielder Yves Bissouma got back in favour with boss Ange Postecoglou as his superb strike inspired a 4-0 rout of Everton in north London.

Postecoglou picker Bissouma following a one-game suspension after posting a social media video that showed him inhaling nitrous oxide.

“You know what it’s like when you punish your child and they do everything right for the next two days?” Postecoglou had said of Bissouma’s return.

The Mali international made the most of his reprieve in the 14th minute, lashing home from the edge of the area for his first league goal for Tottenham in his 52nd appearance.

Son Heung-min doubled Tottenham’s lead in the 25th minute, forcing Jordan Pickford into an embarrassing mistake as the Everton keeper was robbed by the South Korean for a simple finish.

Cristian Romero headed Tottenham’s third in the 71st minute. Son bagged his second with a clinical finish six minutes later.

West Ham boss Julen Lopetegui earned the first win of his reign as second half goals from Tomas Soucek and Jarrod Bowen sealed a 2-0 victory at Crystal Palace.

Alex Iwobi’s 70th minute goal clinched Fulham’s 2-1 win against Leicester at Craven Cottage after Emile Smith Rowe’s first half opener for the hosts was cancelled out by Wout Faes.

Nottingham Forest won 1-0 at Southampton thanks to Morgan Gibbs-White’s 70th minute strike.

Title contenders Arsenal travel to Aston Villa in Saturday’s late game.

Joshua Zirkzee made himself a Manchester United hero on his debut with a late winner to beat Fulham 1-0 in the opening match of the Premier League season on Friday. Zirkzee, lacking match fitness after his £36.5m ($47 million) move from Bologna last month, came on only for the final half hour. The Dutch international saved the Red Devils from a frustrating evening at Old Trafford when he poked in Alejandro Garnacho‘s cross on 87 minutes.

“To win here in my first home game and to grab a goal, it couldn’t be better,” said Zirkzee.

“I’ve been told (scoring at the Stretford End) is one of the best feelings at Manchester United. I’m so thankful and blessed I could experience it in my first game. It’s an amazing feeling.”

United boss Erik ten Hag survived at the end of last season, despite finishing eighth in the Premier League, thanks to winning the FA Cup.

Whether that shock victory over rivals and English champions Manchester City in May could be a springboard is yet to be found out after a performance that was eerily reminiscent of many last season.

“I have seen many spaces where we have to improve but that is normal,” said Ten Hag. “It (the win) is good to strengthen the belief.”

The Dutchman revealed on the eve of the game that his side were “not ready” for the new campaign with key players missing through injury or a lack of match fitness, and it showed.

Bruno Fernandes started in a centre-forward role in the absence of Rasmus Hojlund, while Zirkzee was on the bench after returning to pre-season late following Euro 2024.

Noussair Mazraoui was thrown straight into the starting line-up at left-back after joining from Bayern Munich this week.

But there was no place in the squad for Jadon Sancho even though the winger and Ten Hag appeared to have settled their differences.

Fulham won at Old Trafford last season for the first time in 20 years in February during a torrid campaign for United.

Little seemed to have changed in the opening 20 minutes as the visitors started confidently and Andre Onana did well to prevent Kenny Tete’s dipping effort finding the top corner.

But United grew into the game after a slow start.

‘Kill in the box’

Twice Fernandes missed huge chances by firing too close to Bernd Leno before the German goalkeeper spread himself brilliantly to this time deny Mason Mount a rare goal since his move from Chelsea just over a year ago.

“We created a lot of chances and we should have scored earlier,” added Ten Hag. “That is the only criticism of the team: kill in the box!”

Ten Hag turned to Garnacho and Zirkzee from the bench in the search of a winner.

In doing so United left themselves open and Fulham could have secured another famous three points at the Theatre of Dreams.

Andreas Pereira’s poor pass cost Alex Iwobi the chance to run clean through on goal.

Moments later Lisandro Martinez produced a goal-saving clearance from Pereira’s dangerous low cross.

Instead it was the home side that snatched all three points.

Garnacho’s ball from the right was not the best, but Zirkzee managed to get a toe on it to divert it beyond Leno into the far corner.

United should have had a second in stoppage time when Garnacho somehow skewed wide with an open goal to aim at from Marcus Rashford‘s unselfish pass.

But United held on to give Ten Hag the winning start he badly needed.

Players of Manchester City celebrate with the FA Community Shield Trophy following their team’s victory in the penalty shootout during the 2024 FA Community Shield match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Wembley Stadium on August 10, 2024 in London, England. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Images)
| Photo Credit: Getty Images

A look at some of the big talking points heading into the new Premier League season, which starts on Friday when Manchester United hosts Fulham:

Stopping City

Since 2017, only one team — Liverpool, in 2020 — has stopped Manchester City winning the title. Can anyone stop Pep Guardiola’s juggernaut capturing a record-extending fifth straight title in what could be a tumultuous season for the champions? Arsenal took City all the way last season, having collapsed late the year before, and looks to be the best equipped to win what would be its first title since 2004. Otherwise, only Liverpool seems capable of producing the consistency to finish ahead of City — and that is a big ask for Arne Slot in his first season in charge since replacing Jurgen Klopp as manager. Manchester United and Chelsea should improve after more heavy spending in the offseason, but they are unlikely to deliver a sustained push for the title.

Improved VAR?

It will be the sixth season of video reviews in England’s top division — and it still hasn’t prevented regular flashpoints popping up, much to the frustration of players, managers and fans alike. New for this season is an account on X, formerly Twitter, dedicated to offering live refereeing and VAR clarifications and explainers from all matches. Semi-automated offside technology will also be in use for the first time, though not until a few months into the season. The Premier League says the number of correct decisions in matches has climbed to 96%, up from 82% before video reviews were brought in.

Goals, Goal, Goals

Premier League teams will do well to top the record 1,246 goals scored last season, which was a staggering 162 more than the previous most for a single campaign. It worked out at 3.28 goals per match — never before had it exceeded 2.85. Increased amounts of stoppage time, more adventurous managers and VAR interventions were credited as some of the reasons behind the soaring numbers of goals. Will it continue this season?

Long Season

For some, this could be the longest ever club season. Take the players at Manchester City, who have just started the season by winning the Community Shield on Saturday and might not finish it until the final of FIFA’s expanded and revamped Club World Cup, scheduled for July 13 next year in the United States. Make that an 11-month season for City and Chelsea, the other Premier League team involved in the Club World Cup. City manager Pep Guardiola has already gone public with his concerns that there is too much soccer on the calendar, with the Champions League also expanding for this season. Expect talk of burnout and the threatened legal action by soccer leagues and player unions against FIFA to be a constant issue throughout the season.

More Points Deductions?

Everton and Nottingham Forest were hit with points deductions last season for overspending, forcing all the clubs in the league to take a closer look at their finances to ensure compliance with the competition’s regulations that are being more strictly applied. Leicester, one of the three promoted teams, is facing a points deduction for breaching spending rules during their previous stay in the Premier League but have others learned their lesson? Judging by some of the creative transfer activity in the last weeks of June and the lack of blockbuster signings so far in the summer window, teams appear to be more aware of what it takes to comply.

Farewells

Pep Guardiola is heading into his ninth year at Manchester City and he will have to decide at some point this season whether his stay at the club will extend to a decade. Similarly, this might mark Kevin De Bruyne’s final season at City — enjoy him while you can — while Liverpool stars Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are in the final years of their contracts at Anfield. Then there’s Everton, which is preparing for its last season playing at Goodison Park, its storied home since 1892, before moving to a new stadium at Bramley Moore Dock that has cost a reported 760 million pounds ($975 million).