Michael Carrick's first competitive test since being handed the Manchester United job on a permanent basis ended in humiliation on the opening weekend of the Premier League season, as newly promoted Hull City beat his side 2-0 at the MKM Stadium.
Semi Ajayi gave the Tigers the lead in the 17th minute, capitalising on a defensive mix-up to poke the ball home from close range, and Nobel Mendy doubled the advantage with a firm header just before half-time. United never found an answer.
It was Hull's first Premier League fixture since they were relegated at the end of the 2016-17 season, and reports of the game described it as the club's first-ever league win over United. The Tigers marked their return to the top flight in style, unsettling one of the division's traditional heavyweights from the opening whistle.
Sky Sports' Ron Walker described the win as built on "blood, guts and fight" from Hull. "It felt like they were first to every ball, gave more to reach every header and didn't give United an inch throughout," he wrote. "That was exactly what Man Utd lacked. They didn't look anywhere near as up for it and paid the price." ONE's report on the match framed the defeat in almost identical terms, saying United had shown none of the courage and fighting spirit that carried Hull to victory.
Carrick brought on Marcus Rashford for his first appearance for the club since December 2024, following a spell out of favour under predecessor Ruben Amorim and loan moves away from Old Trafford, but the forward received little service and could not engineer a way back into the game.
"We're bitterly disappointed with the result, but we won't let it knock us," Carrick said afterwards. Pressed on the wider picture, he added that it was "one game, first game of the season" and insisted it "doesn't change the whole course of direction the team is going in or the football club."
Carrick took permanent charge in May, after a caretaker spell following Amorim's January sacking had steered United to third place and back into Champions League contention. The defeat at Hull was his first game since signing a contract through 2028, and it undercut much of the optimism built up over the summer.
ONE's report also pointed to United's defensive vulnerabilities and suggested the club needs reinforcements before the transfer window shuts, with roughly ten days left before deadline day.
For Hull, the result is as good a start as any newly promoted side could hope for - and a rare piece of schadenfreude at Manchester United's expense on the very first weekend of the season.
