Hull 2-0 Man United: Michael Carrick could not have seen this opening-day humiliation coming even in his worst nightmares – any title talk on this evidence is a joke, writes CHRIS WHEELER

Well, Michael Carrick did say it was ridiculous to suggest Manchester United had been given an easy start to the season away at Hull City.

Even in his worst nightmares, however, Carrick couldn’t have foreseen this: an opening-day humiliation at the hands of a team that sneaked through the Championship play-offs in May and have been prepped for their return to the top-flight after a nine-year absence with a summer spend of just £70million on 12 players – the same as it costing United to sign Carlos Baleba from Brighton.

What a day this was for Hull; their players and their fans. Head coach Sergej Jakirovic and charismatic owner Acun Ilicali. They deserved this and more for their hunger and endeavour.

They will talk for a long time here of the two set-piece goals created by the right foot of Regan Slater and converted by Semi Ajayi and new record signing Nobel Mendy.

But what of United? All of a sudden, Carrick could have been transported back to Turf Moor in August 2009 when United’s first away game of the season ended in an embarrassing defeat at Burnley and he missed a penalty. There were shades too of United’s 4-0 defeat at Brentford four years ago.

This was every bit as bad. After a summer of guarded optimism over the signing of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans, the new midfield failed to launch. Both players were replaced midway through the second half with United two goals down, having made little impact.

This was a serious setback for a side who were sloppy, ponderous, and vulnerable 

Instead, it was the business that United haven’t done that becomes the main talking point. The new striker that hasn’t arrived. The missing defensive cover for Luke Shaw. Baleba, the third midfielder, coming too late to play in the first game of the season.

Considering Carrick only lost two of his 17 games after returning to the club in January – both 2-1 to Newcastle and Leeds – this was a serious setback. He talked in the week about touting United as title contenders being ‘a jump’. On this evidence, it’s a joke.

His line-up here was largely as expected, although he was without Amad Diallo who picked up a ‘niggle’ in training towards the end of the week and did not travel with the rest of the squad. It meant that Bryan Mbeumo reverted to the right wing after playing through the middle in pre-season, with Matheus Cunha starting at centre-forward.

Santos and Tielemans made their Premier League debuts in midfield, with Kobbie Mainoo on the bench after his late return from the World Cup and Baleba still completing his move to Old Trafford.

Marcus Rashford, who had not played a competitive game for his hometown club since December 2024, was named on the bench after it was confirmed before kick-off that he has been handed the No.9 shirt by Carrick. Rashford was sat alongside Benjamin Sesko who had not featured at all in pre-season due to a persistent shin injury.

It has been an even busier summer at Hull following their return to the Premier League via the Championship play-offs, with no fewer than 12 players coming in and 19 leaving the MKM Stadium.

Jakirovic was able to name seven of the new signings in his squad for the first game back in the top-flight – including Mendy and Konstantinos Tzolakis who was excellent – but was also without a total of eight players through injury.

On paper at least, it didn’t look like a team that would cause United too many problems. But by half-time, Carrick’s shell-shocked side were two goals down – and could have no complaints about it.

Semi Ajayi gave the hosts the lead after a kerfuffle in the box in the 17th minute 

Nobel Mendy made matters worse for United when he added Hull’s second after 38 minutes

They were sloppy and ponderous on the ball and vulnerable without it, particularly when Hull fed their wing-backs in wide areas. There was little to suggest that the new midfield partnership of Tielemans and Santos is clicking into gear, despite a great early throughball from the Belgian which deserved a better first touch from Bruno Fernandes.

Most of all, the Premier League newcomers just seemed to have a greater appetite on their big day. They outmuscled United off the ball too often, epitomised by Oli McBurnie’s battle with Ayden Heaven.

There was a warning of what was to come as early as the fifth minute when Lewie Coyle swung over a cross from the right which was destined for McBurnie before Noussair Mazraoui bravely got his head in to flick the ball to safety.

Although Mbeumo brought a fine one-handed save from Tzolakis with a volley and Cunha fired straight at Hull’s new keeper, McBurnie forced Senne Lammens to palm the ball wide when he rose above Heaven to meet Ryan Giles’ cross with a firm header.

United were wobbling and it was no surprise when they cracked in the 18th minute. It followed a moment of hesitation from Mbeumo in midfield which allowed Hull to steal possession and break on goal. Giles’ cross-shot almost caught out Lammens who palmed over, conceding the corner that led to the first goal.

Slater crossed from the left and John Egan flicked on. McBurnie knocked Heaven off the ball too easily and got in a shot from a tight angle which Lammens saved on the line and turned against the post. But the ball ran loose for Ajayi who was left unmarked to score from close-range.

If that was a warning for United, they didn’t heed it. If anything, Hull grew in self-belief and looked the more likely to score before they extended their lead in the 38th minute.

Again it came from a set-piece, exposing United’s defensive frailties. Slater whipped in a free kick from 25 yards out that was inviting a close-range finish, and Mendy provided it as he stole in front of Shaw to power a header past Lammens.

Marcus Rashford came off the bench wearing the number nine shirt but was unable to change the match

Hull City owner Acun Ilicali felt vindicated after standing up for his side despite their doubters

The MKM Stadium was in rapture, United in disarray. It was clear that changes were needed and Carrick sent on Rashford at half-time for Dorgu, who was arguably the worst of a very bad bunch and had also been booked. He could have changed any number of players though.

Both sides had their moments early in the second half. Mohamed Belloumi sent a shot dipping over Lammens’ bar from 25 yards, and Egan showed great anticipation to block Cunha’s goalbound shot at close-range.

Carrick sensed more changes were needed and took off both his midfield signings, Santos and Tielemans, in the 67th minute and replaced them with Sesko and Mainoo.

It almost brought a goal when Cunha slid a great pass through for Mbeumo but Tzolakis was equal to his weak effort.

There was no way back and there was a trace of relish in the voice of the matchday announcer when he informed the United fans that two trains back to Manchester had been cancelled, much to the delight of the Hull supporters.

‘You’re going home in a taxi,’ they taunted their rivals, although most of them had disappeared by the final whistle.