Manchester United remain without a Premier League victory this season after being forced to settle for a 1-1 draw at Fulham on Sunday.
Despite taking the lead through a Rodrigo Muniz own-goal, United were undone when substitute Emile Smith Rowe struck late to earn Fulham a valuable point at Craven Cottage.
Ruben Amorim’s men, aiming to rebound from last season’s disappointing 15th-place finish, wasted a golden chance to take control early on. Bruno Fernandes, usually so reliable from the spot, blasted a first-half penalty high over the bar after VAR awarded the kick for grappling by Calvin Bassey on Mason Mount.
United eventually found their breakthrough just after the hour mark, but it came in fortuitous fashion. Leny Yoro’s header deflected off Muniz and past Bernd Leno to give the visitors their first Premier League goal of the campaign. However, Fulham were left angered that VAR did not check for what they believed was a foul by Yoro on Bassey in the build-up.
Their frustrations did not last long. With 17 minutes left, Smith Rowe ghosted into the box unmarked and steered Alex Iwobi’s delivery beyond Andre Onana, denying Amorim’s side their first win. It means United, beaten 1-0 by Arsenal in their opening game, have now dropped five points in their opening two fixtures.
Meanwhile, Fulham felt they had reason to be aggrieved by key decisions but ultimately showed resilience to avoid defeat against one of the league’s traditional heavyweights.
Everton’s new beginning
Over on Merseyside, Everton marked the start of a new era by defeating Brighton 2-0 in the first Premier League match at their state-of-the-art 53,000-capacity stadium. The Toffees said farewell to Goodison Park at the end of last season, closing a chapter on a ground that had been their home since 1892.
Manager David Moyes described the move as a major step in taking the club forward after years of struggle. “We’re trying to find a way of moving the club on. I think this is a big step forward for Everton,” he said.
Summer signing Jack Grealish, brought in as the club’s headline recruit, immediately demonstrated his quality by setting up both goals. His first assist came midway through the first half when his drilled cross was met perfectly by Iliman Ndiaye, who had also scored the final goal at Goodison in May.
Brighton had opportunities to spoil the party. Kaoru Mitoma rattled the crossbar, Jan Paul van Hecke hit the post, and Danny Welbeck somehow missed from close range. Their wastefulness was punished after halftime when James Garner doubled Everton’s lead with a thunderous strike, again laid on by Grealish.
Late drama came when Brighton were awarded a penalty, but Welbeck’s poor spot-kick was saved by Jordan Pickford to preserve the clean sheet and cap off a memorable day for the Toffees.
Forest battle, Nuno pushes back
Elsewhere, Nottingham Forest shared the points in a 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park. Palace had taken the lead through Ismaila Sarr in the first half, but Callum Hudson-Odoi equalized to ensure Forest did not leave empty-handed.
Speculation surrounding manager Nuno Espirito Santo intensified ahead of the match, with reports suggesting a strained relationship with club owner Evangelos Marinakis. Betting markets had even shortened odds on him becoming the first Premier League manager to be sacked this season.
Nuno, however, dismissed the rumors after the game. “That is nonsense. That does not make any kind of sense,” he said when asked if he was looking to engineer an exit from the club.
For Forest, the point offered some stability, but the uncertainty around the manager’s future continues to hang over the team.
What you should know
Manchester United’s winless run at the start of the new Premier League season continued with a 1-1 draw at Fulham, as Bruno Fernandes missed a penalty and Emile Smith Rowe struck late.
Everton, in contrast, opened their new stadium with a 2-0 win over Brighton, highlighted by Jack Grealish’s impressive two assists and Jordan Pickford’s penalty save. Nottingham Forest also picked up a point at Crystal Palace, though off-pitch speculation dominated as Nuno Espirito Santo denied rumors of a rift with the club’s owner.
The weekend reflected United’s struggles, Everton’s optimism, and Forest’s uncertain managerial situation.
