Hull City Surprises Manchester United with Stunning Comeback Win
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Published Newly-promoted Hull City stunned Manchester United on their return to the Premier League with two first-half goals giving them victory.
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ESPNMan United fall to shock Hull defeat in PL opener Manchester United fell in a shocking 2-0 defeat to newly promoted Hull City in their first match of the 2026-27 Premier League.
CBS SportsIt has been 10 years since Hull City have been able to open the Premier League season at home, but the result was the same as last time. The Tigers have shocked one of the big boys of the Premier League, defeating Manchester United 2-0 to open a campaign where most are tipping them for relegation, while Manchester United are a side expected to make a Champions League and perhaps push for the title in their first full season under Michael Carrick.
Sky SportsReport as Hull City beat Manchester United 2-0 at the MKM Stadium; first-half goals from Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy left Utd stunned on Humberside; it leaves Michael Carrick's side under pressure after just one game, with calls for further United reinforcements in the transfer window
Reuters SportsHull stun Manchester United 2-0 on Premier League return - Reuters Hull stun Manchester United 2-0 on Premier League return Reuters
The Guardian SportBut Hull City and Manchester United also have things in common. Both were abysmal the season before last – Hull 21st in the Championship, United 15th in the Prem. In Sergej Jakirovic and Michael Carrick, both have managers who radiate decency and are loved by the supporters. And both could struggle to maintain their recent resurgence, as Hull try to cope with the high life and United suddenly find the season stretching to more than 40 games.
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Carrick sent for Marcus Rashford for the second half - his first competitive appearance for United in 618 days - but the England forward's introduction didn't have the desired impact.
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BBC SportIt is an opinion though - and everyone is entitled to them; just as they are entitled to say Carrick's side were toothless in attack, before and after Marcus Rashford's half-time introduction for his first United appearance since December 2024.
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Semi Ajayi (off 63): In the right place to smash home the rebound to put Hull ahead. His first Premier League goal since January 2021, for West Brom at Wolves. A rock at the back. 9.
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Sky Sports17: GOAL! Lift-off for Hull on their Premier League return as Ajayi scores from close range to give them the lead.
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Ayden Heaven: Outmuscled by McBurnie in the build-up to Hull's opener and got involved in an argument with the forward at half-time. Inexperienced and exposed. 5.
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The Guardian SportMcBurnie was causing nagging problems with relentless running and physically as Ayden Heaven was welcomed to the perils of Hull. United, on the other hand, missed the presence of a striker, with Matheus Cunha nominated for the role of false 9, which allowed him to roam far and wide, spending as much time away from the centre-backs as possible.
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The other is the one blot on Carrick’s copybook last season, which came in trips to promoted clubs, with a defeat at Leeds and a stalemate at Sunderland. His United seem to cope better with low expectations than high ones. This may explain why he’s been scoffing at the idea that they have an easy start to this season. Secretly, Carrick might prefer to be in Jakirovic’s shoes today, with a moment to savour and nothing to lose.
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Youri Tielemans makes his competitive debut for United, and so does Andrey Santos, alongside him in the pivot. There’s no sign of Amad, so Bryan Mbeumo reverts to the right wing and Matheus Cunha starts up front. On the bench, Marcus Rashford is back, 20 months after his long and largely distinguished United career was rudely interrupted by Ruben Amorim. He will wear the No 9 shirt, as he did on loan at Aston Villa. Benjamin Sesko makes the bench too after a slow-healing shin injury.
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01 Sky Sports The loss punctured the optimism around Old Trafford at the start of Carrick's first full season in charge.
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02 CBS Sports Long-time set-piece specialist Robert Snodgrass may no longer be lurking at MKM Stadium, but the Tigers were able to make the most of dead ball opportunities to score both of their goals as the entire Premier League leans into making the most of these situations. It's easier with a body like Ollie McBurnie to aim for in the middle, and the benefit of scoring in the 17th minute allowed Hull City to put everyone behind the ball and United didn't make them pay for it.
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03 BBC Sport The Tigers have been predicted by many to finish bottom, having only squeezed into the Premier League via last season's Championship play-offs.
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04 The Guardian Sport Ever since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement 13 years ago, Manchester United have been stuck in football’s equivalent of purgatory and a chastening experience in Hull suggests they could be there a while longer. Michael Carrick’s permanent appointment was supposed to hail a new era at Old Trafford but very little has changed based on this defeat.
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