Manchester United 1-0 Fulham: Joshua Zirkzee impresses but Erik Ten Hag's side still lack identity and need improvement | Football News

A second-half goal from summer signing Joshua Zirkzy gave Manchester United a hard-fought 1-0 win over Fulham in their first Premier League game of the season on Friday, but are Erik ten Hag's side showing signs of escaping last season's glory?

Four new signings, including goal-winner Zirkzy, took to the pitch and the club's newly appointed board of directors were also in attendance at Old Trafford, but there was still a familiar sense of frustration as United struggled to find their rhythm.

Sky Sports expert Gary Neville, Jamie Carragher, Roy Keane As the third season of the Ten Hag era begins on Friday night, we take stock of United's squad and playing style…

Nev: Man Utd are stable but not flashy

Neville He remains optimistic that fans will see a new Manchester United this season, but says that identity and a distinct playing style remain issues under manager Ten Hag.

“It was steady and unremarkable,” he said. Sky Sports Football. “They should have won, but they didn't look like they were going to win for most of the game.

“It was important they won and the clean sheet was important. Defensively they will be better than last season and the squad looks bigger and thicker.

“It wasn't a particularly impressive performance, but I didn't expect it to be that way considering the way they played tonight.

“What Manchester United have desperately wanted to do all season is develop a pattern, or a style of play, that you can see is consistent. I don't think we'll see a proper Manchester United team until we see that.

“Overall it was positive. It was important to have Zirkzy come out and score the winner and to have that presence to replace Rasmus Høylund when he was unwell.”

The instinctive Jirkji shows signs of what is to come.

Rasmus Hoilund needed 15 attempts to score his first Premier League goal last season, so United will be delighted to have Zirkzee scoring so quickly at Old Trafford.

And perhaps the young Dutch striker has given Premier League viewers a glimpse of things to come. The penalty area is Zirkzee's playground. He was among the top 10 strikers in Serie A for the most touches in the opposition box last season, and his finishing shows his instinctive side.

After the game, Eric Ten Haag Revealing the move as if it was a win on Friday is something they are working on in training. “We have to work with him and he has to get in the box to finish. We bought him because we want him to be connected with the team,” the Man Utd manager said.

The results from that training ground are already encouraging.

Bad news for Maguire, De Ligt, Mazraoui impress on debut

Coach Ten Hag is trying to piece together his new squad, with Bayern Munich arrival Nousayr Mazraoui set to start just days after joining.

The right-back was tidy in possession and finished his debut with the highest pass completion rate (92%) of any starter, with only United's new third man Harry Maguire winning more balls through the middle and back line.

Former right-back Neville felt the defender had “played a really good game”. Kine A little more convincing is needed. “The level of play was not good,” he said. “Let's not fool ourselves. He did the basics well and looks like a decent player. He will be satisfied with a clean sheet.”

Meanwhile, Matthijs De Ligt came on as a late substitute for Harry Maguire with the score still at 0-0. Neville and Carragher Both believe the Dutch centre-back will eventually replace the England defender in Ten Hag's starting line-up.

“It has to be De Ligt and Martinez. Harry Maguire is probably not number one,” Carragher added.

Manchester United's next six games