Manchester United player ratings vs Fulham: obvious 8 but 'anonymous' 5 struggles in 1-0 win - gallery

Manchester United defeated Fulham 1-0 in the opening fixture of the new Premier League season thanks to a late goal from debutant Joshua Zirkzee.

Erik ten Hag made one change from the side that faced Man City in the Community Shield, with summer signing Noussair Mazraoui coming in to replace Jonny Evans in defence. It was a pretty even start to the match, with both sides enjoying spells of possession and creating a few half-chances without ever really testing the opposing goalkeeper.

Bruno Fernandes enjoyed United's two best chances of the first-half, firing at Bernd Leno on both occasions having been picked out by Casemiro both times as well.

While there was still a rustiness to United's play, they were much improved as a pressing side, forcing plenty of mistakes and turnovers as the game went on. Ten Hag's side still looked at their best playing on their break and almost took the lead when Mason Mount fired straight as Leno following a scintillating counter-attack shortly after the restart.

United turned to their bench on the hour-mark with Joshua Zirkzee brought on for his debut and Alejandro Garnacho also introduced in an effort to add some extra firepower to their forward line.

As the game went on it became a lot more stretched, with spaces opening for both sides as they looked frantically for a potential winning goal. Fulham would have had it if not for a brilliant interception from Harry Maguire and an awful pass from Alex Iwobi that wasted a golden opportunity for the away side.

In the end, it was United who found their breakthrough as substitute Zirkzee started and ended a move with a brilliant winner in front of the Stretford End to secure the first win of the season for his new side.

They should have had a second at the death as well, only for Garnacho to fire wide after being set-up by the selfless Marcus Rashford. Here is how we rated the United players on the opening night: