Sutton's predictions: Fulham v Man Utdpublished at 11:05 BST 24 August
11:05 BST 24 August
Like a lot of people, I try to be balanced about Manchester United. They lost last week, but I do think they will be better this season. Well, they can't be any worse.
I really like Bryan Mbeumo, and I especially like Matheus Cunha - I think he's got loads going for him.
Fulham were fortunate to get something against Brighton but I think they'll improve in front of their own fans.
Fulham don't play with any fear and will take the game to Manchester United, which gives me a sneaking feeling United will exploit them and win this one.
But then again, I always predict Manchester United games wrong. I want to be positive about them, but I'm not sure I can be. Plus, I think I predicted Fulham wrong for every one of their matches last season.
I'm leaning towards a Manchester United win, so, because of that, I'll go for a draw.
Fulham v Man Utd: Key stats and talking pointspublished at 13:12 BST 23 August
13:12 BST 23 August
Tom White BBC Sport journalist
Fulham were one of just three clubs that Manchester United completed a Premier League double over last season, with the other two coming against relegated pair Southampton and Leicester City.
Marco Silva believes their task this term has been made all the harder because of United's acquisitions in this summer's transfer window.
"Last season, they had a lot of great players," said Silva before the game. "This season, they've kept almost all of them [and] they have been able to spend heavily in the market. Two they signed from Premier League [sides]. And they signed a striker that all the market was looking for."
By contrast, the Whites have made just one senior signing this summer with goalkeeper Benjamin Lecomte joining from Montpellier, and they were once again indebted to their substitutes against Brighton on the opening day when striker Rodrigo Muniz scored in the 96th minute to rescue a point.
Silva's compatriot and counterpart Ruben Amorim suffered his 15th loss in his 28th Premier League game as manager of Manchester United last weekend. However, the green shoots of optimism were on show against Arsenal at Old Trafford, with the Red Devils dominating their visitors and new signings Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha both impressing.
Amorim said he was "proud" of his team despite the defeat, highlighting the fact that they were creating more chances. "We have more options, so you see that we play in a little bit of a different style with Cunha - and then at the end with [Benjamin] Sesko, because he is a different player and we can use that."
Despite the positivity, United are seeking to avoid losing their opening two games of a Premier League season for a third time. They did so in the inaugural campaign in 1992-93 but went on to win the league that year, and most recently in the 2022-23 campaign under Erik ten Hag, when they ended up third.
Proof, perhaps, that defeat on Sunday may not yet prove fatal for Amorim.
Silva on Fulham's transfer issues, Muniz and injuriespublished at 14:56 BST 22 August
14:56 BST 22 August
Karan Vinod BBC Sport journalist
Fulham boss Marco Silva has been speaking to the media before Sunday's Premier League game against Manchester United at Craven Cottage (kick-off 16:30 BST).
Here are the key lines from his news conference:
On team news Silva said Ryan Sessegnon and Antonee Robinson have trained but need further assessment, adding: "If not, Calvin (Bassey) did a great job at left-back and we know we are more than covered in that position."
Silva reiterated the lack of signings this window compared with last season when they had acquired players by this stage, stating: "We had a plan, and the plan did not go through."
The manager also suggested this is through no fault of the market but their own, as it is getting more competitive and the club has to be "ready for it". He added: "We as a club cannot be pleased at all. The Premier League demands much more from you."
On Rodrigo Muniz's future: "He is under contract with us. I am very pleased with real interest from others in Rodrigo. It is a good sign, and we cannot be scared. After this, it is up to us to be resilient and to resist and be strong and sometimes to say no and other times to negotiate. From me, it is clear that I don't want to lose Rodrigo. He is in contention for the game, I count on him and let us see what is going to happen. Rodrigo is likely to stay with us."
On the Africa Cup of Nations stretching squad depth: "Of course not (enough cover). We have three wingers, one is going to be out for seven to eight games. It is just an example of how short we are in certain numbers. Many things in terms of numbers are short. Afcon has an impact on our decisions."
Silva also stated that "it is very important" to start the season well at home and "the connection" with the fans is "crucial".
On Manchester United: "We are playing against a great side. I know last season is not the way they wanted. This season, they have spent heavily in the market and signed a striker that all in the market were looking for in Europe. For us, it is a very important and it is going to be a very demanding Premier League game."
Have Fulham shown a 'lack of ambition'?published at 11:25 BST 22 August
11:25 BST 22 August
Image source, Getty Images
Former Fulham defender Stephen Kelly says there has been a "lack of ambition" to improve the playing squad for Marco Silva this summer.
Fulham are yet to spend money on a signing this transfer window, despite unveiling a fully operational new stand and taking steps forward off the pitch.
Speaking about the potential impact this could have on both the manager and the players, Kelly highlighted how a lack of backing in the transfer market can create uncertainty and unrest within a team.
"There's been a real lack of ambition to improve the squad, which is surprising," Kelly told the BBC's Sportsworld. "It surprised me as well because the new stand is going to be fully open this season, so the club is making moves in the right direction in different ways.
"I think as a manager, if you don't get reinforcements, you feel like you're not backed and you probably feel under-appreciated, and that can cause problems. I think as a player as well, you sometimes think 'well, are they backing the manager, are they looking to stay with this guy', because if they're not going to give him the signings he wants, then what does that say?
"He (Silva) will feel slightly aggrieved that he's done really well by the club, not far from a European place. I don't think it's a lack of funds, and he's got to be feeling, 'why am I not being given the resources to improve the team. Do they not think I'm the right one?'
"I find it a strange situation, especially with the ambition the club was portraying to have in the last few seasons."
Fulham weigh up move for Basel winger Otelepublished at 14:50 BST 21 August
14:50 BST 21 August
Nizaar Kinsella Chelsea reporter
Image source, Getty Images
Fulham are exploring a move for FC Basel winger Philip Otele before deadline day.
The Cottagers have looked at multiple players and have recently sent scouts while asking for the conditions about what it would take to sign the 26-year-old from the Swiss Super League club.
Otele is believed to be available for about £15m and is a cheaper option to other targets like Arsenal's Reiss Nelson and Shakhtar's Kevin.
The Nigerian has two goals and two assists in the Swiss top flight this season having played in Lithuania, Romania and UAE. He also had a trial at Arsenal at the age of 14.
Negotiations for Kevin are not believed to have progressed this week as Shakhtar continue to hold out for over £43m. It remains unclear whether the Ukrainian club are willing to negotiate.
Atalanta hold interest in Rodrigo Muniz, who is valued highly at Craven Cottage.
What do Fulham need before the transfer window shuts?published at 11:13 BST 21 August
11:13 BST 21 August
Image source, Getty Images
It has been very quiet at Craven Cottage this summer but all the indications are there will be movement before the close of the window, with wide positions the area manager Marco Silva will be focusing on.
Silva will certainly hope for incomings after expressing concern about Fulham's "passive" window and insisting he wants to strengthen in three or four positions. He wants better attacking options.
Fulham have been in negotiations for Shakhtar Donetsk's 22-year-old Brazilian winger Kevin, along with Arsenal's Reiss Nelson - could there even be a wildcard to come?
Raheem Sterling will need to get his career going again somewhere after he failed to make an impact at Arsenal.
Fulham need a winger. Sterling is available, looking for a club and keen to stay in London. Chelsea want him out.
Why would Fulham let Muniz leave?published at 13:51 BST 20 August
13:51 BST 20 August
Image source, Getty Images
Since Fulham's return to the Premier League in 2022, only Raul Jimenez (19) has scored more league goals for the club than Rodrigo Muniz's 18.
However, in that period Jimenez has averaged a goal every 209 minutes while Muniz has averaged one every 143 minutes - only bettered by Manor Solomon during his streaky loan in the 2023-24 season.
In fact, since his Premier League debut, of players to have played the same amount of games as him or more (58), only Erling Haaland, Mohammed Salah, Alexander Isak and Callum Wilson boast a better minutes per goal record in the division.
The 24-year-old's 93 shots is only behind Jimenez and Andreas Pereira and his big chance conversion rate of 64% from 25 big chances is the best for any Cottagers player to have 10 or more big chances aside from the departed Bobby Decordova-Reid's 64.3% from 14.
It is perhaps surprising therefore that Muniz has been constantly linked with a move away from West London this summer.
However, after his late opening day equaliser off the bench against Brighton on Saturday, it was reported in the BBC Sport Gossip Column today that a move to Serie A side Atlanta is off after Fulham rejected a £35m bid.
BBC Sport fan writer Drew Heatley wrote in his column this week, external that it is time to "pass the torch" from Jimenez - 10 years Muniz's senior at 34 - to the Brazilian and give him the increased game time and wages he is seeking.
Given his effectiveness in front of goal when afforded the opportunity, it is hard to see where Fulham would find a suitable replacement for him at this stage of the transfer window.
And given the love has been shown by the fans, a decision to allow Muniz to leave would not be popular.
Gossip: Muniz move to Atalanta offpublished at 07:58 BST 20 August
07:58 BST 20 August
Forward Rodrigo Muniz's move from Fulham to Atalanta is off after the Cottagers rejected a proposed £35m deal for the 24-year-old from the Serie A club. (Fabrizio Romano, external)
Is it time to 'pass the torch' to Muniz?published at 09:19 BST 19 August
09:19 BST 19 August
Drew Heatley Fan writer
Image source, Getty Images
It had to be him.
Amid continued interest from Atalanta, Rodrigo Muniz's every move has been scrutinised. Reports early last week asserted he had "said his goodbyes", leading to fans analysing everything from his media day team shots to his team-mates' Instagram posts.
Separate rumours claimed Rodrigo asked not to play in our final pre-season match against Eintracht Frankfurt last week in order to avoid the risk of injury. But these whispers have proved to be false with the Brazilian named on the bench against Brighton.
Muniz is said to be looking for two things in order to stay at Craven Cottage: an improved contract and increased game time.
It is hard to argue against either. He has proved himself to be an integral element of Marco Silva's plans in the last two seasons, scoring 21 goals in all competitions since the start of 2023-24, sharing the goal-scoring load with Raul Jimenez. But at 34, his Mexican strike partner is 10 years his senior, with only a season or two left at this level. Time to pass the torch.
Then there is money. Rodrigo came to Fulham as an unproven 20-year-old back-up striker in the Championship and was paid accordingly. But four years on those terms haven't changed.
An offer is said to be on the table, so the ball is in Muniz's court. Let's just hope the club's contract reflects his importance to us.
If Muniz does go, we would have to replace him immediately. And while there are options to fill his gap on the pitch, off it will prove far harder. Rodrigo has endeared himself to Fulham fans with his UK sightseeing trips, samba dancing and love of fishing. He would be missed.
But for now he is still ours - and he is still proving his worth.
Should Muniz start more - if he stays?published at 15:39 BST 18 August
15:39 BST 18 August
Mark Scott Final Score reporter
Image source, Getty Images
"Rodrigo Muniz, we want you to stay" was the chant from the away end after the Brazilian's last-gasp strike earned Fulham a point at Brighton, with noise last week claiming Atalanta were looking to sign him.
It wasn't just the fact he scored but the way he converted the chance which caught the eye - an elite piece of clinical finishing, and yet another he has bagged from the bench.
Muniz's seven goals as a sub since the start of last season is more than any other player in the division.
With him having only started a quarter of his Premier League games in 2024-25, Marco Silva must be weighing up making him a more regular fixture from the off - if Muniz is still at the club come the end of the window.
Brighton 1-1 Fulham - the fans' verdictpublished at 17:54 BST 17 August
17:54 BST 17 August
Media caption,
We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's Premier League game between Brighton and Fulham.
Here are some of your comments:
Brighton fans
Chris: Seeing out games was a real problem last season, and it looks like that hasn't properly been solved with Fulham. No Europe if it continues to happen this season too.
Fran: Just like last season and before that and before that... we just cannot finish a game off. Had enough good chances to be well in front but no, we are too wasteful. It's all very well playing nice, tippy-tippy, backwards football but, at that stage of the game, we should just boot it out. Who cares if it is not pretty? We have got to learn and quickly.
Mark: Very disappointing from the Seagulls. Same problem as last season: can't defend a one-goal lead and can't get the second goal to kill the game. Two points dropped at home again to one of the poorer-quality teams in the league. We can't afford another season doing this.
Jon: This looked like a case of deja vous - slow-paced, sideways passing all the time, throwing a game away in stoppage time. Fabian Hurzeler says he wants more intensity, then sends a team out that he knows play slow-paced football. All that money spent sitting on the bench - changes must be made next week.
Bob: Time and time again we cannot hold on to a lead. We must have lost 12-15 points by letting in late goals. Drop Dunk.
Ben: Thought the manager would have learned from last season. You take off the players doing badly, not the ones doing the job! The first three substitutions basically changed the game and he seemed to be making more to try to sort it out. Can't take off Georginio Rutter. Based on last season, we will now finish ninth. Every point is vital, so shipping two in the first home game is dreadful.
Fulham fans
Larry: Phew! Maybe let's not sell Muniz?!
Rob: Lacklustre up top. Good in possession but go backwards in final third. Need some new faces desperately to freshen up and improve squad. Josh King was superb and we saw some good things from Smith Rowe when he came on. Need him to stay fit. We have to start Muniz to give us a physical presence up top and don't, in any circumstances, sell him. He will be in the Brazil squad in the World Cup, so play him.
Mario: Frustrating. Thank goodness for Muniz. A point is as good as it was going to be. I hope the owners realise they need to get themselves together and sort out the transfers.
Rob: Obviously, as a fan, these are the best moments to get a goal - the extra emotion, laughing at the home end emptying like the proverbial fire drill, a draw feeling like a win. On the flip side, I'm still underwhelmed at our slowish transitions from defence to attack. I think that's an area we can work on more.
Simon: Lucky to grab a point, Brighton dominated but couldn't finish us off. We can play better but a big plus was Josh King, who did well with the limited about of ball he had.
Danny: Neither Jimenez nor Muniz is a 20-plus-goals striker. Without a consistent goalscorer we will struggle to finish in the top half of the table, let alone get anywhere near the European places. The other problem Marco Silva needs to address is our inability to build on an opening goal or hang on to a lead. Far too many points squandered last season.
Watch Premier League highlights and analysispublished at 11:31 BST 17 August
11:31 BST 17 August
Pundits Wayne Rooney and Alan Shearer join host Mark Chapman to bring you the action and talking points from Friday and Saturday's opening Premier League fixtures.
Super-sub Muniz strikes againpublished at 19:25 BST 16 August
19:25 BST 16 August
Marissa Thomas BBC Sport journalist
Image source, Getty Images
Fulham have made just one new signing this summer and Silva believes the club have been "passive" in their efforts to strengthen a squad who finished 11th last term.
Muniz, who has been linked with a move away from the Cottagers, showcased his clinical finishing with a well-taken equaliser.
The Brazilian has a reputation as Fulham's super-sub - and once again proved his worth having come off the bench to replace Raul Jimenez in the 66th minute.
Since the start of last season Muniz has more goals (seven) as a substitute than any other player in the Premier League - with only two of his past nine league goals coming when he has started.
Given Fulham's attacking options remain fairly limited, his departure would be a damaging blow for Silva.
Brighton v Fulham: Team news published at 14:08 BST 16 August
14:08 BST 16 August
Brighton boss Fabian Hurzeler hands a Premier League debut to left-back Maxim De Cuyper while fellow newbies Diego Coppola and Olivier Boscagli are on the bench.
Brighton XI: Verbuggen, Dunk, van Hecke, Wieffer, De Cuyper, O'Riley, Ayari, Baleba, Minteh, Mitoma, Rutter.
Sutton's predictions: Brighton v Fulhampublished at 11:02 BST 16 August
11:02 BST 16 August
I had a nightmare predicting Fulham last season because they were less consistent than usual at home, but picked up a few unexpected points away.
They haven't really added to their squad this summer, but under Marco Silva they are still a decent team who play attractive football.
It's Brighton I am backing here though, even if I do wonder what effect Joao Pedro leaving will have on the Seagulls - who were so exciting in attack at times last season.
The Seagulls have signed young Greek striker Charalampos Kostoulas, who has a big reputation but he is only 18 years old, so they will be relying on wily old Danny Welbeck - as well as Kaoru Mitoma - while Kostoulas adapts.
We had Brighton manager Fabian Hurzeler on this week's Monday Night Club and it was really interesting to listen to him talk about all aspects of management.
Hurzeler said they had turned down bids for Mitoma in the past. We know Brighton's model is to sell players, but Hurzeler clearly has got ambition himself - and while players like Mitoma are there, they are going to be in the top half of the table.
I was thinking of being bold and starting the season by backing them to get a big win, but I'm going to be sensible - for once.
