Manchester United conceded two goals from set pieces and were beaten 2-0 by newly promoted Hull City as the 2026-27 Premier League season kicked off on Saturday.
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Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy scored the goals for Hull, who made their return to the top flight for the first time since 2017.
Not the start that Michael Carrick, now in charge on a permanent basis, wanted. The Red Devils were on the front foot and played some pretty possession football to start, but Hull’s set-piece specialist Regan Slater had himself a day and set up both goals before halftime. First, it was a corner kick touched on and scrambled home by Ajayi, and then a brilliant free kick to the back post for Mendy redirect it home.
LIVE BLOG UPDATES — Hull City 2-0 Man United
Counter-attacking Red Devils out of ideas against deep defense
Man United have a squad full of “big space” attacking players, meaning they’re at their best with the ball in big, open space, as opposed to operating in tight spaces with multiple defenders near them. Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha, Marcus Rashford and Benjamin Sesko all fit the bill, and even Bruno Fernandes, the play-making extraordinaire that he is, tends to score and assist most of his goals with long-range shots and passes. On paper, they are an elite counter-attacking team, but what happens when their opponent flat out takes that away?
Because that’s what Hull did, at least after the first 10-15 minutes. There were a few glimpses early as Youri Tielemans, signed this summer to solve Man United’s “small space” problem, showed his passing range and made a quick impact. So long as they kept Hull off the scoreboard, there would be enough space in behind for them to exploit, so when Hull scored in the 17th minute, it became a completely different game and a much harder puzzle for Man United to crack.
Tielemans has been one of the Premier League’s best playmakers for years now and will undoubtedly be the key to breaking down deep defenses this season, but the forwards or wingers have to prove they are more than just one-trick ponies. Strangely, United should play better against the top teams and might struggle a little more against the smaller sides, at least early on.
Relegation favorites Hull impress in Premier League return
Hull City were virtually unanimously chosen to finish 20th this season, a decade on from their last stint in the PL, but Sergej Jakirovic’s side looked anything but a newly promoted side overawed by the occasion. It was a true five-man backline for the Tigers but everyone does their part defensively. They have a few fantastic crossers in the team (from open play and dead balls), Oli McBurnie is still a tough-as-nails target man, and having three big center backs on the field at all times will make them a constant threat from set pieces.
It’s not going to be pretty or fanciful often, but Hull look like a team with the fighting spirit required to have a real go at avoiding relegation and staying up this season.
