Hull City secured a 2‑0 victory over Manchester United on 23 August 2026 at the MKM Stadium, the first Premier League win over United in more than half a century and the first opening‑week defeat to a newly‑promoted side. The goals were scored in the first half by Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy, both from set‑pieces. The match ended 2‑0 in Hull’s favour, a result that punctured the optimism surrounding Old Trafford at the start of Michael Carrick’s first full season in charge.
Carrick, who had overseen the arrival of Andre Santos and Youri Tielemans and had already agreed a £70 m transfer for Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, remained calm in the post‑match press conference. He said, “It’s just one game, we’re disappointed we haven’t won. We’ve got to soak it up and come back stronger.” Carrick also acknowledged that the defeat was painful, adding that he was “hurting” inside but that he would not let emotion turn into chaos.
Captain Bruno Fernandes echoed Carrick’s sentiment, pointing out that United had made the same mistakes as the previous season in away games. He said, “We give too much of the ball to them. In the first 20 minutes, the goalkeeper had more touches. We need to press more, be more aggressive, and work on set‑plays.” Fernandes highlighted that Hull had used set‑pieces effectively, a tactic that United had to counter.
The match also drew attention to the logistical frustrations for visiting fans. Two trains back to Manchester from the city centre station were cancelled, and a portion of the 2,400‑strong visiting contingent had to wait for alternative transport. Hull’s supporters celebrated the victory with chants such as “You should have come in a taxi.”
Former United striker Wayne Rooney and Newcastle legend Alan Shearer commented on United’s performance. Rooney said, “When you play a promoted team, it’s always difficult. United just didn’t seem ready.” Shearer added that United “didn’t look fit, they didn’t look ready to play 90 minutes of intense, high‑pressure, high‑energy football.”
The defeat comes after a 63 % loss of duels and two‑thirds of headers for United in the first half, where Hull scored both goals. Carrick noted that the team had lost a number of first‑team players to injury and that the squad’s fitness had been questioned after a defeat to AC Milan in Poland. He stressed that the loss was a single game and that the team would focus on improvement rather than dissecting every detail.
Manchester United will next face Ipswich Town at Old Trafford on 30 August. Carrick said it was “ridiculous” to think his side had been given a favourable start, and that the Hull defeat proved otherwise.
The match marked Hull City’s first ever top‑flight win over United and their first league meeting since a Second Division encounter in 1974. The result will be a key talking point as United look to regroup for the remainder of the season.
