Manchester United

Match of the Day pundits Alan Shearer and Wayne Rooney analyse Manchester United's performance in their 2-0 loss on the opening day of the Premier League to newly promoted Hull City.

Man Utd starting XI:

Senne Lammens: Made two good saves before blocking Oli McBurnie's goalbound effort, which led to Semi Ajayi's goal. Despite the score one of the visitors' better performers. 7.

Noussair Mazraoui (off 80): Tended to run inside the wide attacking channel but didn't threaten and found it tough to stop Hull when they were going forward. 5.

Harry Maguire: Tough day on his return to Hull. Solid enough but couldn't inspire those around him. 6.

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.

Luke Shaw: Hugged the touchline to provide an attacking outlet and linked well, but given too much ground to cover defensively. 6.

Andrey Santos (off 66): Competitive debut passed him by. Dominated by Hull midfield and not secure in possession. 5.

Youri Tielemans (off 66): Some slick passing, but got sucked into playing high balls into the Hull penalty area which the visitors were ill-equipped to compete for. Disappointing overall. 5.

Bryan Mbeumo: United's biggest threat in the first half. One angled drive saved, another acrobatic effort deflected wide. 5.

Bruno Fernandes: Tried but nowhere near his best. Didn't get himself into shooting positions. 5.

Patrick Dorgu (off 46): Got the ball in dangerous positions but couldn't find the end product and struggled to maintain the flow of United's attacks when needed. Booked as well. Not a surprise to be taken off. 4.

Matheus Cunha (off 80): Started up front but natural instinct is to check back into the number 10 position and look for space, which meant the visitors did not have a forward option to aim for. 5.

Man Utd substitutes:

Marcus Rashford (on 46): Half-time arrival for his first Manchester United appearance since December 2024. Immediately started to run at the Hull defence but didn't create anything. 5.

Benjamin Sesko (on 66): Physical presence at least created a different challenge for Hull. 5.

Kobbie Mainoo (on 66): Struggled to make a significant impact. 5.

Diogo Dalot (on 80): 5.

Shea Lacey (on 80): 5.

Subs not used: Karl Darlow, Lisandro Martinez, Joshua Zirkzee, Leny Yoro.

Read the full article and see how you rated the players

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Former England and Manchester United forward Wayne Rooney on BBC Radio 5 Live: "Hull's shape was really good. They stuck to the job and worked hard, which is what they're going to have to do to try and stay in this league.

"And obviously, it looked like they identified a weakness in Manchester United in putting balls into the box and utilised that really well. All they can do is try and take as many points at home as they can. It's a great start.

"Hull were fantastic. The manager [Sergej Jakirovic] was spot on when he talked about preparation. I watched Manchester United against AC Milan, and they struggled stopping crosses into the box. Hull looked like they played on that, they got the ball out wide, put good crosses in the box and caused United problems.

"Hull defended well in the second half. They looked powerful, they looked strong. United didn't look at the races and Hull overpowered them in both boxes. That won them the game.

"From a fitness point of view, it can be tricky for the top clubs who have a lot of players away in a World Cup year. There was a lack of intensity. In terms of the press, Man Utd sat in a mid-block, but didn't get pressure on the ball.

"In the next few games, players will pick up that fitness. Ultimately, you want to see a little bit more, especially when they go 2-0 down. You want to see more urgency."

Have your say on Hull City's performance

What did you make of Man Utd's display?

Manchester United boss Michael Carrick, speaking to BBC Match of the Day: "I thought we had moments and then two set plays caught us today.

"That decided the game in the end. We've conceded two goals today from set plays. We'll look at it and improve it for sure. We keep working and moving forward.

"It's constant, it's evolving all the time. Just because we haven't got any points today, it won't change what we do next week. We look forward and be excited with the season that is still ahead of us.

"We've got to find the answers, we didn't quite click and find the right solutions today.

On Marcus Rashford: "I thought he came on and looked dangerous in moments. We probably relied on him a bit too much. Marcus playing today will be better for it with a game in his system."

Manchester United's Bruno Fernandes, speaking to TNT Sports: "We know in the Premier League these types of away grounds are difficult to play against.

"You need to match their intensity and aggression. The two set pieces ended up costing us the game today."

On fan frustration: "We understand the frustration. Every season, at the start, we want to compete and win every game, but we need the fans on our side, and to believe in ourselves."

Listen to more from Michael Carrick on BBC Sounds

Did you know?

• Manchester United have lost their opening Premier League game in four of the last seven seasons (W3), while it's the first time in their league history they've lost on MD1 to a newly promoted side (P14 W10 D3 L1).

• Marcus Rashford made his first Premier League appearance since April 2025 for Aston Villa v Manchester City, appearing for Manchester United in the competition for the first time since December 2024 v Nottingham Forest.

Emlyn Begley
BBC Sport journalist

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This result will have certainly zapped some of that pre-season enthusiasm around Michael Carrick and his team.

This was the first time - on the 13th occasion - in their history they have lost to a promoted team on the opening day of a season.

They had a new-look midfield featuring summer signings Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans - but neither shone and ended up being replaced midway through the second half.

United were already 2-0 down when they brought on Marcus Rashford at half-time, but the England forward - back from his loan spell at Barcelona - could not spark any kind of comeback on his first appearance for his boyhood club since December 2024.

The Red Devils did have chances - 21 in total - but not as many clear-cut ones as they might have liked, with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Bruno Fernandes all testing the Hull keeper.

Captain Fernandes also fired another opportunity over the bar.

United had 72% possession and attempted more passes than they did in any Premier League game last season.

But Carrick will hope this was a simple case of United not making the most of their chances - and the opposition taking theirs - and not something more concerning for the future.

Whether you were at the game or following from elsewhere, we want to know what you learned.

Have your say on Hull City's performance

What did you make of Man Utd's display?

Reaction and analysis to follow - and come back on Monday for a selection of your replies.

There are five games in the Premier League on Saturday as the opening weekend continues, and BBC Sport will bring you every moment.

• Hull City v Man Utd (12:30)

• Everton v Crystal Palace - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

• Ipswich v Sunderland - listen on BBC Radio 5 Sports Extra 2

• Nottingham Forest v Leeds

• Brentford v Tottenham (17:30) - listen on BBC Radio 5 Live

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Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter

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Michael Carrick believes skipper Bruno Fernandes will continue to have a major impact for Manchester United.

Galatasaray were ready to lodge a €50m (£42.8m) offer for Fernandes and pay him €21m (£18m)-a-year net, to try and entice him to Turkey.

United officials have made it clear they would reject any bid for the 31-year-old, even though they told Fernandes it was his decision whether he accepted a higher offer from Saudi Pro-League side Al Hilal in the summer of 2025.

Fernandes still has a year left on his current contract, although the club have an option to extend that to the summer of 2028.

It remains to be seen whether Carrick will give him breaks during the forthcoming campaign, which, for the first time in three seasons, includes Champions League matches.

However, the United head coach feels his captain will be an influential figure at Old Trafford.

"Bruno's been a big part of the team and the club over recent times and has had a huge impact. He'll continue to do that," said Carrick.

"Hopefully he stays fit and in good shape but yes, there is the element as we go through the season, with the waves and the momentum; keeping the boys in good form but keeping them fresh as well. Bruno's part of that.

"He's obviously our captain, but we still need to look after him."

Matthew Hobbs
BBC Sport journalist

Hull City kick off a first Premier League campaign in nearly a decade by taking on 13-time winners Manchester United. BBC Sport examines some of the key themes going into the meeting at the MKM Stadium on Saturday.

The Tigers are the first side to be promoted to the Premier League after finishing sixth in the Championship since Blackpool in 2010, having defeated Millwall and then Middlesbrough in the play-offs.

Hull boss Sergej Jakirovic - the first Bosnian Premier League manager - will take on the challenge of keeping the newly promoted side in the top flight and to do so he may need to develop Hull's style of play.

Despite triumphing in the play-off final in May, Hull's underlying numbers last season were not those of an elite outfit.

They had the fifth-fewest shots of any second-tier team in 2025-26, while only bottom club Sheffield Wednesday had a higher tally of expected goals against. Hull also faced the third-most shots (681), an unwelcome set of statistics that underline the club's status as favourites to return to the Championship.

Hull, though, can take some solace from a solid opening-day record in the Premier League. They have triumphed in three of their five opening matches in the competition, defeating reigning champions Leicester City on their most recent appearance in 2016.

This time round the Tigers take on a United team who have won their opening Premier League fixture on an unrivalled 22 occasions.

Carrick's men, boosted by new signings including midfielders Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, are facing promoted sides in their first two matches, with a home game against Ipswich Town to come, providing the Red Devils the perfect opportunity for a strong start following their third-place finish last season.

Carrick has won four of his six managerial meetings with Hull (D1, L1) and is unbeaten in three visits to the MKM Stadium (W2, D1).

United's manager will also be hoping that the form of Bruno Fernandes continues into this campaign as the club return to Champions League football.

The club captain set a record for most assists in a Premier League campaign last season with 21, along with scoring nine goals – making Fernandes the first United player to be involved in 30 or more goals in two Premier League seasons.

Hull City's assistant head coach Dean Holden came on the Monday Night Club this week and spoke really well about how they will approach the Premier League. It sounds like they will be horrible to play against, and will be happy to go direct when they have to.

With them starting at home, getting a result against Manchester United - who Holden is a big fan of - could really make their season.

I think they will be competitive, but my worry for Hull is from looking at how they did last year, when they lost a third of their games in the Championship.

As a story, Sergej Jakirovic getting them from 21st place into the play-offs, and then up, is remarkable. Now they just need to hang on in there in the Premier League, but that will be very difficult.

United have not done much in the transfer market this summer, but Youri Tielemans is a really good signing - a safe signing, if there is such a thing - like Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo were last year.

As things stand, they are going to be stretched by being in the Champions League and I do feel like Carrick overachieved by getting them there.

Now the expectations are rising following their third-place finish, but they are nowhere near Arsenal at the moment.

I think them having European football, while Tottenham and Chelsea don't, will have a huge bearing on the season, which is why I left United out of my top four.

They should begin with a win, but this is the start of a full-on campaign for them, which makes it far more difficult, and they will need to add to their squad.

Sutton's prediction: 1-2

Read the full predictions and have your say here

Nathan Edwards
BBC Sport journalist

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Ander Herrera may have left Manchester United seven years ago but the Spanish midfielder played with current Old Trafford boss Michael Carrick for four years.

The 37-year-old saw traits even then that he believed would help Carrick become a top coach in the game, especially with his mindset.

Herrera said: "As a team-mate, he didn't talk too much, but when he used to talk, he said the right words and it was fantastic. He was a very charismatic person and he's so calm.

"He's not impulsive, he knows what to say in every single moment, and I think he can he can reach the player with that. He can touch the heart of the player.

"He has done great in Championship and he has done great with United, bringing back the team to Europe.

"I wish him all the best because I love the club and I want to see Manchester United fighting for the Premier League and for Champions League."

Herrera, now playing for Real Zaragoza in the Spanish third tier, spent five years at Old Trafford, winning the FA Cup, Europa League and EFL Cup.

He was also part of the squad that finished second in the league under Jose Mourinho, the best finish the club has had since Sir Alex Ferguson left, but Herrera believes the quality of competition has only improved.

He said: "We used to fight for trophies with Chelsea, Manchester City, Liverpool and that's it.

"Arsenal sometimes, but they were not so consistent. Tottenham were not in the top six.

"But now you have to add Aston Villa, you have to put probably also Newcastle. It's so difficult. So the job has to be really well done.

"But United have everything. They are so big. The club is huge. You have everything to perform, but you are also playing against six or seven teams that are prepared to be champions."

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The Commentators' View trio of John Murray, Ian Dennis and Ali Bruce-Ball have been previewing the new Premier League season as they return for series three of their podcast.

Murray asked his co-hosts: "What is it that is most capturing your imagination about the season of Premier League commentary that lies ahead?"

Dennis responded: "After watching the Community Shield, Arsenal have already laid down a marker.

"I remember the time when Erling Haaland made his debut in the Community Shield at the King Power in Leicester and people were quick to jump to conclusions because he made nine touches or something like that.

"He soon put that to bed but Manchester City, on the evidence of the 90 minutes in Cardiff, didn't look quite up to speed - but that is maybe not surprising given players are still coming back from the World Cup and might not have got the minutes in from pre-season.

"To have lost Pep Guardiola would have been impactful enough, but to have now lost Rodri, as well as Bernardo Silva, John Stones and Nathan Ake - all of that experience - is a massive change for City.

"We'll have to see what happens between now and the end of the transfer window."

After Bruce-Ball agreed about Arsenal's strength, Dennis added: "You could also argue that Liverpool will be in transition this season as well given a new manager in Andoni Iraola.

"There's also no Mo Salah so potentially I'm thinking, could Manchester United look to take advantage of that and be the closest rivals to Arsenal given the impact that Michael Carrick had at the end of last season?"

Murray replied: "The thing I'm most looking forward to is exactly that - to see which one of those teams is going to be able to make a fast start when there's been so much change at so many different clubs."

Listen to the full episode of The Commentators' View on BBC Sounds

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The last time Manchester United visited Hull City in an away fixture in the Premier League, the Red Devils counted on a stoppage time winner from Marcus Rashford to claim the three points.

Of the 18 players involved for United on that rainy August evening in 2016, only Rashford and Luke Shaw are still at the club.

Shaw, United's longest serving current player, is set to embark on his 13th season at the club, which will also lead to him being the longest serving Premier League player at a single club.

Shaw told club media: "That's very special. I feel extremely privileged to be here for so long. It is kind of home now really. Hopefully, I can continue that."

Throughout Shaw's 12-year career at Old Trafford, including interim managers, he has played under nine different bosses, but the full-back believes this is the best mood he has experienced while being at the club.

He explained: "I have been here for a long time, so I have experienced different groups, different atmospheres, but I would certainly say this is the most positive, happiest, and probably talented group that we have had."

Although Shaw has endured an injury-stricken career at United, he started all 38 league games last season, something which he puts down to a new Pilates regime.

"The season before was one of my toughest seasons," Shaw added. "I couldn't find a way to be on the pitch and help my team. Last season was good for me. I found a new way in Pilates which I felt really helped me keep in really good condition throughout the whole season."

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Manchester United youngster Jacob Devaney is in talks with Hibernian over a loan move back to the Scottish Premiership.

Devaney was captain of United's Premier League 2 side for the first half of last season, before moving to St Mirren for his first extended stint in senior football.

The 19-year-old impressed in his time at the club, making 18 appearances, including 16 starts.

Devaney returned to United for pre-season and featured in the first two matches, against Wrexham and Norwegian side Rosenborg, scoring in the latter, despite appearing in central defence rather than his preferred midfield role.

The Republic of Ireland Under-21 international said this summer his main aim was to play first-team football for United, but accepted he may have to spend the season on loan to gain further experience.

It is understood there has been huge interest in Devaney. Talks with Hibs have reached an advanced stage, although the deal is not done.

Hibs drew 0-0 with Belgian side Gent in the away leg of their Conference League play-off last night. The Edinburgh club are bidding to reach the league phase of a European competition for the first time.

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Manchester United were very much the third-best side in the Premier League last season, not just in terms of points but goal difference and expected goal difference too.

Only Arsenal and Manchester City scored more goals and United fans will deem it fitting that their team took the most shots in the league, although 10 teams created better chances on average.

At the back, five teams conceded fewer goals and again it was the quality of the chances that mattered. Eight sides let in a lower percentage of their opponents' shots but that is because eight sides gave up chances that were harder to score on average. Senne Lammens was actually the best shotstopper in the league, preventing more goals than any other keeper based on the quality of chances he faced (6.5).

As a result, United scored and conceded goals at around the same rate last season - something they are likely to need to change if they are to challenge for the title.

Bayer Leverkusen's Burkina Faso centre-back Edmond Tapsoba, 27, has emerged as a leading defensive target for Manchester United, Newcastle and Tottenham. (Teamtalk), external

Manchester United are concentrating on signing a new left-back, with Racing Santander's 19-year-old Spaniard Jorge Salinas a candidate as Newcastle are not inclined to sell England left-back Lewis Hall, 21. (CaughtOffside), external

Want more transfer stories? Read Friday's full gossip column

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