Set Pieces Sink United: Hull Mark Their Premier League Return with a Shock
Newly promoted Hull City beat Michael Carrick's Manchester United 2-0 at the MKM Stadium on the opening day of the 2026-27 season, with both goals coming from dead balls.
Manchester United's new season lasted 17 minutes before the old problems resurfaced. Semi Ajayi headed newly promoted Hull City in front from a corner at the MKM Stadium on Saturday, Nobel Mendy made it two from another set-piece delivery in the 38th minute, and the Tigers held on for a 2-0 win over Michael Carrick's side on the opening day of the 2026-27 Premier League season.
It matters because this was supposed to be the fresh start. Instead, United — for all their early possession — conceded twice from dead balls before half-time and rarely looked like recovering.
How Hull did it
According to NBC Sports, set-piece specialist Regan Slater provided the deliveries for both goals, while Hull's compact defensive block denied space to a United front line of Bryan Mbeumo, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko that prefers to run at open ground. United's clearest chance fell to Mbeumo after the break, but goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis turned it away, per Sky Sports.
There was a milestone in the defeat too: Marcus Rashford, introduced at half-time, made his first competitive appearance for United in 618 days, per Sky Sports — but he could not change the pattern of the match.
A famous day for the Tigers
Hull were playing their first Premier League match since 2017 and arrived widely tipped for relegation. Oli McBurnie led the line impressively, the back line barely flinched, and a raucous MKM Stadium celebrated one of the club's great modern results.
Elsewhere on opening day
Per NBC Sports' live coverage, Leeds United won 1-0 at Nottingham Forest through an Anton Stach free kick, Everton beat Crystal Palace 2-0, and Ipswich Town edged Sunderland 2-1 with a late Jack Clarke winner.
For Carrick — reported by NBC Sports to be "bitterly disappointed" — the questions arrive immediately: United's set-piece defending cost them here, and calls for defensive reinforcements before the window closes are already growing, per NBC Sports.