Fulham’s running power on transitions provided the basis for their superb 2-1 win over United at Old Trafford in February. That clash was a proper end-to-ender and featured 38 attempts on goal from both teams combined.

Equipped with the same personnel in forward areas, the Cottagers are likely to use a similar tactical blueprint on their return to Manchester on Friday evening and another open contest could develop in this campaign opener as a result.

Both teams have scored in nine of the last 11 meetings between the clubs, while the same bet landed in 100% of the last eight encounters between the sides at the Theatre of Dreams. Expect similar here.

Anchorman Sasa Lukic started just 13 times in the Premier League for Fulham last season, however, the 28-year-old should have a more prominent role this term following the summer departure of Joao Palhinha.

Palhinha averaged 5.07 tackles and 1.73 fouls per 90 minutes for Fulham during the 2023/24 campaign and Lukic will be tasked with taking over his mantle as the Cottagers’ chief enforcer in midfield.

Lukic (27) made fewer total fouls than Palhinha (52) last season, though his foul rate p/90 was higher and eager to put down a marker on his first outing post-Palhinha at Old Trafford on Friday, we’re backing the Serbian to foul at least once again.

Bruno Fernandes put in a productive shift in the Community Shield against Man City last weekend and alongside having two shots in the official post-game metrics, he had a spectacular goal from distance ruled out by VAR.

United’s club captain will be eager to lead by example again on Friday evening and Fernandes, who had eight shots across two Premier League appearances against Fulham last season, is unlikely to waste any opportunity to let fly at Old Trafford.

The Portuguese international, who clocked 2.60 shots per 90 in the EPL in 2023/24, aimed a joint-game-high five efforts at Fulham’s goal in February and he could match that output against the same opponents in Friday’s rematch.

Alejandro Garnacho’s sparkling goal-scoring impact off the bench in last weekend’s Community Shield might have earned him a start in United’s opening Premier League salvo against Fulham, and if he does feature against the Cottagers, history tells us he could be in for a bumpy ride.

Garnacho’s speed and close control often make him a magnet for mistimed challenges and he was fouled five times when he faced Fulham at Old Trafford in February and three times when he lined up against the Cottagers in London three months before that.

The Argentinean’s nimble footwork and match-winning potential could mark him out as a target for rough treatment again this week and he provides good value to be fouled at least twice again.

Andreas Pereira was one of several Fulham players to make hay in a vacuous United defensive third at Old Trafford in February and the Brazilian midfielder tested Andre Onana in the host’s goals with two well-placed efforts.

The 28-year-old, who was on United’s books between 2014 and 2022, recently said it was the “best decision I made in my life” to leave the Red Devils, and Pereira will be keen to do some more damage against his former employers on Friday.

Pereira, who had 1.79 shots per 90 in the EPL last season, can shoot with either foot from any distance and he is very backable in the 1+ shots on target realm here.

United hoped to replace wilting veteran midfielder Casemiro over the summer, but as things stand, the 32-year-old will still be Erik Ten Hag’s first pick for the number six position this season and the serial fouler is likely to find the going tough against Fulham.

Despite giving away two free kicks, Casemiro looked less exposed against methodical passers City at Wembley, however, plugging the gaps against Fulham’s fast-breaking rapid runners should be a trickier task for the leggy South American.

Casemiro committed at least one foul in 16 of his 24 Premier League starts last season and at least two in eight of the same appearances, so expect his rash challenges to be a feature of Friday’s contest.

Marauding Fulham fullback Antonee Robinson was an impactful performer both with and without the ball last season, as evidenced by his haul of six assists and six bookings, and from a punting perspective, he was also foul market favourite.

Robinson committed a minimum of one foul in 21 Premier League fixtures for Fulham in 2023/24 and included in that batch were fouls in both of the USA international’s appearances against Manchester United.

The 27-year-old committed 0.94 fouls per 90 minutes of top-tier action overall last season and the timing of his tackles should be tested again by some tricky, technically-gifted United wingers at Old Trafford.

Diogo Dalot has admirable self-belief in his own shooting ability and the Portuguese fullback rarely lets a fixture pass him by without unleashing an attempt on his opponent’s goal.

Indeed, the 25-year-old, who only managed to score twice in the Premier League last term, had at least one shot in 22 of his 36 (61.1%) outings in England’s top tier and averaged 0.85 shots per 90 minutes across the campaign overall.

Dalot mustered four attempts across two runouts against Fulham without finding the target in 2023/24, though his lack of success against the Cottagers last season is unlikely to deter him on Friday. Expect the defender to have at least one strike at goal again.