EPL ~ Manchester United vs Fulham - Aug 25

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Saturday, 25 August 2012

Time: 10:00pm - (Live)

Mio Channel 102 in HD

EPL Game 02

Manchester United :

De Gea, Evans, Rafael, Vidic, Evra, Buttner, Nani, Valencia, Carrick, Young, Giggs, Scholes, Cleverley, Powell, Anderson, Kagawa, Hernandez, Rooney, Berbatov, Welbeck, Macheda, Bebe, Robin Van Persie, Lindegaard.

Injured :

Smalling, Ferdinand, Fletcher, Jones

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Evans missed Monday’s 1-0 defeat at Everton when United used Michael Carrick at centre-back.

Now, after training all week, Northern Ireland international Evans is ready to start at Old Trafford against Fulham.

He will partner captain Nemanja Vidic, who made his first competitive start on Monday after a long injury lay-off.

Evans, 24, missed the final three games of last season with a foot injury.

He needed ankle surgery in the summer but has stepped up his training.

Manager Alex Ferguson needs him too with Phil Jones and Chris Smalling out injured and Rio Ferdinand battling back from a groin strain.

Ferdinand also hopes to be fit for the weekend but Evans has a better chance.

United need to get back on track quickly with Chelsea already on six points and champions Manchester City getting off to a winning start.

Robin van Persie will be making his home debut as a United player after his substitute appearance at Goodison failed to turn the tide of the game.

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Defeat at Everton must be instantly answered by a win for Manchester United over Fulham, who warmed up for this visit to Old Trafford with a 5-0 defeat of Norwich City. Robin van Persie should be given his first start and the attacking pattern of United intrigues most: how Sir Alex Ferguson harnesses Shinji Kagawa, Van Persie, Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck will offer a first clue regarding the Scot's approach to reclaiming the title from Manchester City. October 2003 was the last time Fulham defeated United before their home crowd.

Venue Old Trafford, Saturday 3pm

Tickets Sold out

Last season Man Utd 1 Fulham 0

Referee Kevin Friend

This season's matches 1 Y6, R1, 7.00 cards per game

Odds Man Utd 2-7 Fulham 9-1 Draw 4-1

Subs from Lindegaard, Giggs, Berbatov, Hernández, Nani, Welbeck, Anderson, Powell, Macheda, Bébé, Young, Buttner

Doubtful None

Injured Evans (ankle, 2 Sep), Ferdinand (calf, 2 Sep), Jones (back, 15 Sep), Smalling (metatarsal, Oct)

Suspended None

Form guide L

Disciplinary record Y2 R0

Leading scorer n/a

Subs from Etheridge, Somogyi, Stockdale, Baird, Kelly, Briggs, Grygera, Kacaniklic, Halliche, Kasami, Bangna, Rodallega, Trotta

Doubtful Grygera (knee)

Injured Frei (pelvis, 2 Sep), Senderos (foot, 2 Sep), Davies (neck, 15 Sep)

Suspended None

Unavailable Dempsey (unsettled)

Form guide W

Disciplinary record Y0 R0

Leading scorer Petric 2

• United won the title in two of the past three seasons in which they lost their opening game (1992-93 and 1995-96)

• Fulham have lost on their past eight top-flight visits to Old Trafford, failing to score in the last five

• United have conceded seven goals in their last 12 league matches – five of them coming in two games against Everton

• Fulham had more shots on target (nine) than any other side in this season's opening round of matches

• Wayne Rooney has scored four goals in his past three league games against Fulham

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MARTIN JOL is backing Fulham to spoil today’s Robin van Persie party at Old Trafford.

Manchester United fans are desperate for the £22m Dutchman to mark his home debut with a goal.

But Van Persie twice drew a blank against the Cottagers last season — and boss Jol warned his players are keen to shut him out again. He said: “I expect Van Persie to start and if we don’t come up with a few answers it will be easy for him.

“But we coped with him twice playing for Arsenal last season, when he didn’t score, and I know all about him.

“Hopefully, we can do the same and stop the balls getting through to him.”

Fulham are having to cope without wantaway striker Clint Dempsey but managed perfectly in their opening-day 5-0 rout of Norwich.

Mladen Petric bagged a debut double and Jol also has fellow new boy Hugo Rodallega plus Moussa Dembele and Bryan Ruiz to provide his goalscoring threat.

He added: “Before last week, I didn’t know where the goals would come from.

“In the past, Clint scored against Arsenal, Chelsea and all these big teams. He was always the one there and we’d quite a few remarkable results because of that last season.

“It’s not about scoring against the likes of Norwich but against the sides like Manchester United. Hopefully, Ruiz, Dembele, Petric and Rodallega can do that.”