Manchester United kick off their 2026–27 Premier League campaign by visiting newly promoted Hull City on Saturday.
The Red Devils finished last season on a high after Michael Carrick masterminded a remarkable resurgence which culminated in Champions League qualification. Confidence is through the roof and optimism has once again swept the stands at Old Trafford.
United’s iffy preseason form has soured the mood ever so slightly, with only two wins from six total friendlies. Bookended by defeats to Wrexham and Ruben Amorim’s AC Milan, their warmup schedule included hard-fought draws with Leeds United and Paris Saint-Germain, as well as wins over Rosenborg and Atlético Madrid.
Their journey to the MKM Stadium will mark a first meeting with Hull in nine years, with the 2016–17 season the last time the Tigers were in England’s top flight. After many years of Championship mediocrity and even one season in League One, they have returned under the excellent tutelage of Sergej Jakirović.
Last term’s Championship playoff winners have been dealt an awkward opener and will be reliant on rust in the United ranks to pull off a shock. After significant summer investment, they will hope some of their fresh faces can dazzle on debut.
Visiting a promoted side during the opening round is seldom straightforward. The home support will be deafening at the MKM Stadium and adrenaline could carry Hull’s players through the game’s tough spells. United cannot afford complacency.
However, Carrick’s side should still make a winning start to his permanent reign without having to overly exert themselves.
The addition of midfielders Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos has bolstered one of United’s problem positions from last season, and the pair will support a star-studded front four which contains last term’s Premier League Player of the Season Bruno Fernandes. There’s so much quality across the team, even if there remain question marks over the defense.
Hull will rally and undoubtedly fight to the death, but their comparative lack of finesse will likely see them come up short.
