Manchester United endured a disastrous start to the Premier League season as newly promoted Hull City stunned them with a vibrant performance despite missing 10 players through injury.
Manchester United’s English head coach Michael Carrick (2nd-L) and his players react to their defeat on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Hull City and Manchester United at the MKM Stadium in Kingston upon Hull, eastern England on August 22, 2026. Photo by PAUL ELLIS / AFP
Manchester United crashed to a humiliating 2-0 defeat at promoted Hull on Saturday in a dismal start to their Premier League campaign.
Michael Carrick’s side were rocked by first-half goals from Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy at the MKM Stadium.
Hull, who are back in the Premier League for the first time since 2017, were without 10 players due to injury but still put woeful United to the sword with a vibrant display.
It was a chastening opening to the new season for United, who are expected to mount a title challenge after finishing third last term.
There was scant evidence that United are capable of going toe to toe with champions Arsenal on a dispiriting afternoon on Humberside.
Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos were anonymous in their United debuts in midfield after joining from Aston Villa and Chelsea respectively.
Carrick laughed off claims that United have been handed an easy start to the season, with their trip to Hull followed by a home game against Ipswich, another of the promoted teams.
The United manager’s caution proved prescient.
Former England captain Alan Shearer summed up United’s malaise with a damning verdict.
“Man United have been shocking, no hunger, they’ve been terrible,” the BBC pundit said.
Carrick’s steady demeanour during his interim spell after Ruben Amorim’s turbulent reign played a major role in United’s revival last season.
But now installed as permanent boss, Carrick is expected to mount a challenge for United’s first English title since 2013, adding a layer of pressure he did not have to endure last season.
Carrick has been asking for more signings, and United have agreed a deal for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba.
He will be demanding even more after this poor performance.
Last season, Hull became the first team to finish sixth in the Championship and earn promotion via the play-offs since Blackpool in 2010.
Tigers boss Sergej Jakirovic had insisted this week that Hull could prove the doubters wrong after a host of pundits wrote them off as relegation certainties.
AFP
