Hull City
Rashford Gives United a Lift, but Hull Exposed Deeper Problems
Rashford impressed off the bench, but United’s set-piece issues and lack of fight cost them at Hull.
Manchester United opened the season with an outcome that stands out in the club’s modern history, and not for the right reasons. Saturday brought only their ninth defeat in 35 seasons of the contemporary era, but it also marked a first: they lost away to newly promoted opposition on the opening weekend for the first time in any competition.
The visitors improved after the break and, in that sense, there were reasons for a more measured reading of the performance. United had made clear progress last season and still carry hopes of challenging for the Premier League title by May 2028. Even so, Hull stayed organised and did enough to secure the result.
The decisive detail was clear enough. Both Hull goals came from set pieces, while their threat in open play was minimal. Their open-play xG was only 0.07, compared with 1.19 from set pieces. United, by contrast, generated 1.81 xG overall and 1.50 in open play, although they offered little of note from dead-ball situations themselves, finishing with 0.30 xG from set pieces.
That imbalance matters. Set pieces are likely to remain a major factor throughout the season, and any side carrying a weakness in that area starts at an immediate disadvantage, regardless of broader quality. United must tighten that aspect if the opening defeat is not to become a familiar pattern.
There was also a question of intensity. Hull looked the more committed side, and the numbers backed that up. They won 59% of all duels, including 60% on the ground and 58% in the air.
Marcus Rashford, meanwhile, offered a more encouraging note. A move is still possible, but it would now be a surprise if he is not a Manchester United player on the morning of Sept. 2. Having been given the No. 9 shirt worn by club figures including Sir Bobby Charlton, Andy Cole, Tommy Taylor, Jack Rowley and Brian McClair, he did not start after only one preseason appearance, against AC Milan, and a compressed build-up. Yet his second-half showing, after replacing Patrick Dorgu on the left, suggested he can contribute this season. He brought pace, created four chances and was the most creative player on the pitch.
United were better with Rashford than without him. Benjamin Šeško, who scored 11 Premier League goals last season, also arrived with promise but a disrupted summer after injury and a fitness complaint that carried over from May.
Arsenal
Six early calls after the Premier League opener
Opening weekend produced statement wins, setbacks and early clues about where the season may head.
The Premier League has wasted little time in reminding everyone why pre-season certainty rarely survives opening weekend.
A composed Friday night start was followed by a string of heavy results and eye-catching shifts across Saturday and Sunday. For a division long billed as one of the most unpredictable in years, the first round of fixtures offered exactly that, forcing plenty of early assumptions into revision.
Arsenal made the clearest statement. Their 3-0 win over Coventry City was controlled, calm and entirely in keeping with a team defending a title. Coventry, in their first top-flight match in 25 years, were worn down gradually and given little encouragement. With the additions made this summer and an already deep squad, the champions look well placed to make another serious run at the top.
Aston Villa, by contrast, left the south coast with real concerns. Their defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion was severe, with the game effectively gone at 4-0 inside 31 minutes and João Gomes later sent off before half-time. Unai Emery has repeatedly found solutions in the past, but the scale of change around the squad means there is now a bedding-in process to manage.
Newcastle United also left their opener with more than frustration. A late Dominik Szoboszlai penalty denied them victory against Liverpool, yet Matthias Jassle’s influence was already visible. There is a clearer identity to their play, and the vertical approach looks suited to a team and support base that should respond to it.
Brentford, meanwhile, may have unearthed a major success in Mamadou Sangaré. The midfielder impressed in the 3-0 defeat of Tottenham Hotspur, and the praise from teammates has been immediate. Caoimhín Kelleher called him “superb,” while Keane Lewis-Potter described him as a “joy to play with.”
Among the promoted sides, Hull City and Ipswich Town both delivered encouraging responses after Coventry’s rough start. Hull beat Manchester United 2-0, while Ipswich edged Sunderland 2-1 late on. Neither club is under any illusion about the task ahead, but both showed enough to suggest they can compete.
At the other end of the conversation, Sunderland’s opening defeat will sharpen questions about a second-season hangover, while Arsenal’s brightest argument may already be individual acclaim. Martin Ødegaard is back, baby!
Hull City
Rooney criticises Shaw as United’s problems are laid bare by Hull
Rooney condemned Shaw’s defending as Hull exposed United’s wider tactical weaknesses in a 2-0 loss.
Wayne Rooney delivered a sharp assessment of Manchester United’s defeat to Hull City, singling out Luke Shaw for what he called “schoolboy defending” while also pointing to deeper tactical issues behind the 2-0 loss.
Rooney focused on the second goal in the 38th minute, arguing that Shaw had played Mendy onside by dropping too deep too early while United were trying to defend a wide free kick. On Match of the Day, he said: “This is schoolboy defending from Luke Shaw,” United’s all-time top scorer seethed on Match of the Day. “Man Utd had a good line, Hull would have been waiting for this all day, Luke Shaw drops in, he’s five yards behind his backline and if the ball is good enough, which it was, it’s impossible to stop.
“Hull had a gameplan, they were getting balls into the penalty box, picking up second balls and Man Utd found it very difficult.”
That was only part of the issue. Rooney also noted that Hull’s use of wingbacks caused problems in open play, with a similar approach having already troubled United against Leeds United and AC Milan. He even pointed out the irony that Ruben Amorim spent 14 months trying, unsuccessfully, to get United to play that way themselves.
“I watched the AC Milan game last week and they [Hull] played the same system,” Rooney pointed out. “They played with wingbacks and Man Utd really struggled to deal with that. Maybe Hull have seen that game last week and changed it and I think fair play if that’s the case because they looked a really good team today.”
Hull boss Sergej Jakirović said the plan was designed to exploit the space left by Shaw: “Because Manchester United is coming very high with Luke Shaw.” He later added: “When we steal the ball, we are very vertical, very quick. In those transitions, we try to switch the side because our wingbacks are completely alone, and then get numbers in the box,” Jakirović bluntly explained. “We had two very good chances, and also we didn’t allow any one-to-one 100% chances from them.”
United now face Ipswich Town, with Gary O’Neil likely to study Hull’s blueprint closely as Carrick continues searching for solutions.
Hull City
Amad Diallo absent as United begin Hull City clash with injury setback
Amad Diallo missed out for United against Hull, with injury and late fitness issues forcing changes.
Manchester United were forced to reshuffle before Saturday’s Premier League opener against Hull City after Amad Diallo was not named in the matchday squad.
The winger was missing when the team arrived, and his absence opened the door for Bryan Mbeumo to come in alongside Matheus Cunha and Patrick Dorgu in the forward line. Marcus Rashford, Benjamin Šeško and Joshua Zirkzee were all named among the substitutes.
United’s starting XI was listed as: Lammens; Mazraoui, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw; Santos, Tielemans; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Dorgu; Cunha.
The bench read: Darlow, Dalot, Martínez, Yoro, Mainoo, Lacey, Rashford, Šeško, Zirkzee.
Before the match, Carrick’s squad update on Friday did not include any reference to a problem for Amad. That changed on Saturday, when Rob Dawson reported that the player was sidelined because of injury. No further details have been made available.
Amad is one of four players unavailable for the fixture. Veteran goalkeeper Tom Heaton and center back Matthijs de Ligt were also ruled out, while Mason Mount failed a late fitness test after suffering a knock in preseason.
Carrick had previously made clear that Mount still had a chance of being involved, describing his status as “touch and go,” but the midfielder was ultimately not considered fit enough to take part. With Amad out and Mount also missing, United’s attacking options were altered again on the opening day.
