Hull Shocks Manchester United as Carrick's Era Begins
Hull 2–0 Manchester United: Carrick’s new era starts with a jolt
Manchester United’s season began with a thud, not a statement. Beaten 2-0 at Hull. Outplayed. Out-thought. Out-run.
Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy struck in the first half at the MKM Stadium, ripping through a United side tipped to challenge Arsenal this season but looking nowhere near that level on opening weekend.
Hull, back in the Premier League for the first time since 2017 and missing 10 players through injury, had every excuse ready-made. They never needed them. They tore into United with a vibrant, fearless display that turned the narrative on its head.
The afternoon also belonged to a teenager. Lucas Herrington, the young Socceroos defender signed from Colorado Rapids in a deal worth a reported $A33 million, came off the bench in the 64th minute for his Premier League debut. At 18, he looked anything but overawed, delivering an assured cameo that immediately strengthened his case for regular starts.
For United, it was a chastening reminder of how far they still have to go. Expected to launch a genuine title push after finishing third last term, they produced almost nothing to suggest they can live with champions Arsenal over 38 games.
Michael Carrick, though, refused to reach for the hairdryer.
“We came here to win so to not take anything away is hugely disappointing. It is not a nice feeling but it is not going to change our direction as a team or a club,” he said, choosing calm over carnage in the aftermath of defeat.
“You have to carry on as normal. We just don’t all have to shout and scream and create some chaos. Calmness doesn’t mean there is not emotion.”
His words were a pointed contrast to the emotional storms that engulfed his predecessor Ruben Amorim before his sacking last season. The performance was poor. The response, Carrick insisted, would be measured.
Tottenham’s £200m rebuild ripped apart at Brentford
If United’s defeat stung, Tottenham’s was an embarrassment.
After spending over £200 million ($A380 million) to overhaul a squad that only escaped relegation on the final day last season, Spurs walked into west London and were taken apart 3-0 by Brentford.
Roberto De Zerbi threw his new signings straight into the fire. Sandro Tonali, Andrew Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke all started. Mateus Fernandes joined the fray from the bench in the second half. The price tag on the pitch screamed ambition.
Brentford didn’t blink. On a fraction of Tottenham’s budget, Keith Andrews’ side simply ran riot.
Keane Lewis-Potter and Vitaly Janelt struck in the first half, punishing a disjointed, soft-centred Spurs side that looked no more secure than the one that flirted with the drop in May. Michael Kayode added a third after the interval, and it could have been worse: Igor Thiago missed a penalty that would have made it 4-0.
Tottenham’s rebuild was supposed to bring authority and control. Instead, it exposed familiar flaws – brittle defending, loose structure, no real grip on the game. On day one, the gap between spending and substance was brutally clear.
Sage’s Palace suffer bruising start at Everton
At Goodison Park, Crystal Palace’s new French manager Pierre Sage discovered just how unforgiving this league can be.
Taking over from Oliver Glasner – the coach who delivered the FA Cup in 2025 and the UEFA Conference League last season – was always going to be a tall order. Glasner’s summer move to Nottingham Forest handed Sage a high bar and a restless fanbase.
Everton, under pressure themselves, struck first against the run of play in the 42nd minute. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall robbed Daniel Munoz, surged forward and drilled a powerful shot into the far corner past Dean Henderson. One mistake, one ruthless finish, and Palace were chasing.
Thierno Barry deepened the damage eight minutes after the restart, thundering in a bullet header from Iliman Ndiaye’s cross to seal a 2-0 win. For Sage, it was a harsh introduction: the legacy of success behind him, the reality of a new project in front.
Glasner’s Forest debut spoiled late by Leeds
Glasner’s own new chapter didn’t start much better.
His first match in charge of Nottingham Forest ended in a 1-0 home defeat to Leeds at the City Ground, decided by an 88th-minute free-kick. Anton Stach’s effort squirmed past goalkeeper Matz Sels, a soft concession that undercut an otherwise tight contest.
The late blow not only cost Forest on the day but adds extra edge to Tuesday night, when the same two sides meet again in the League Cup second round. Glasner will not want a second defeat to Leeds on his ledger before August is out.
Ipswich announce Premier League return in dramatic style
Portman Road, at least, had a different feel: hope, noise, and a late winner that shook the stands.
Ipswich, back in the Premier League, marked their return with a dramatic 2-1 victory over Sunderland. Emersonn lit the place up in the 24th minute, scoring on his debut to give Gary O’Neil’s side the start they craved.
Sunderland hit back before the break. In the 39th minute, Nilson Angulo bent a fine free-kick into the net to level the match and briefly quieten the home crowd.
The game seemed destined to drift towards a draw. Then came the 90th minute.
Jack Clarke curled home the winner, a composed finish that handed O’Neil victory in his first match since replacing Kieran McKenna. For a club clawing its way back into the top flight after years away, it felt like more than three points. It felt like a statement that they intend to stay.
Champions Arsenal cruise as new eras begin elsewhere
The weekend began with business as usual at the top. Arsenal opened their title defence on Friday night with an emphatic 3-0 win over promoted Coventry, a clean, controlled performance that underlined their status as the team to catch.
Now the spotlight moves to Manchester City and Liverpool, both stepping into unfamiliar territory.
On Sunday, City play their first Premier League game without Pep Guardiola on the touchline, with Enzo Maresca taking charge against Bournemouth. Every pass, every substitution, every tactical tweak will be judged against the Guardiola era.
Liverpool, too, start a new cycle. Mohamed Salah has gone, a defining figure of the club’s modern history. Andoni Iraola, once of Bournemouth, now leads the rebuild and faces Newcastle in his first outing.
One round in, the champions look sharp, the challengers already under scrutiny, and the new managers feeling the weight of their choices. The table means little in August – but how long can clubs with title ambitions afford performances like United’s and Tottenham’s?
