Michael Carrick's first season as permanent Manchester United manager could not have started in more contrasting fashion. Game one brought one of the most embarrassing results of the entire Carrick era. Game two delivered one of its most exciting performances. Welcome to 2026-27. August 22

Hull City 2-0 Manchester United (Premier League, Matchday 1) There are bad days, and then there is this. Newly promoted Hull City, written off by virtually every pundit before the season started, produced a stunning 2-0 opening day win over Manchester United at MKM Stadium to claim their first-ever Premier League victory over the Red Devils. Former England international Joe Cole had gone as far as predicting an immediate Championship return for the Tigers before a ball was kicked — their fans would have enjoyed that particular quote by full time. Hull were the better side throughout the first half, and both goals came from set pieces — a glaring problem that United simply could not deal with. Semi Ajayi opened the scoring on 17 minutes, scrambling home after United failed to clear a corner. Then on 38 minutes, Regan Slater delivered a wicked in-swinging free kick to the back post, and debutant Nobel Mendy powered home a header to make it 2-0. Carrick made changes at halftime, bringing on Marcus Rashford, and United dominated possession in the second half with 21 shots in total. But goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis was outstanding, and Hull's defensive block held firm. Mbeumo lifted over, Maguire was denied, and the visitors never truly troubled the hosts. A humiliating opening weekend defeat. The concern wasn't just the result. It was how it happened. Hull sat deep, neutralised United's counter-attacking pace, and punished them from dead balls. It exposed exactly the kind of structural vulnerability that Carrick's summer midfield rebuild was supposed to address. August 30

Manchester United 5-2 Ipswich Town (Premier League, Matchday 2) One week. Completely different story. Bruno Fernandes scored a hat trick and set up another goal as Manchester United hammered Ipswich Town 5-2 at Old Trafford in one of the most entertaining matches of the early season anywhere in the Premier League. Coming off a deeply embarrassing opening day loss to Hull, the response was as emphatic as it gets. It didn't start that way. Ipswich — also a promoted side — were looking for their second straight win after their opening day result, and Leif Davis fired them ahead on 29 minutes after Abdul Fatawu repeatedly got the better of Luke Shaw down United's left. For a brief moment, it felt like the Hull horror show was about to repeat itself. It didn't. Matheus Cunha pounced on a Marcelino Nunez slip and played Fernandes through on goal, and the United captain buried it with his left foot on 40 minutes to equalise before halftime. The second half was a different game entirely. United were relentless. Harry Maguire headed home a corner in the 56th minute — surviving a VAR handball check — before Fernandes converted a penalty after Jacob Greaves fouled in the box. He then completed his hat trick from close range to make it 4-1. Bryan Mbeumo added a fifth with a deft finish to put gloss on a dominant display. Ipswich grabbed a late consolation through Chuba Akpom, but it barely registered. Marcus Rashford also made his first Old Trafford appearance of the season as a substitute and looked lively — something worth keeping an eye on as the season develops. The Bigger Picture Two games, two very different results, and already a theme for the season: United's new-look midfield is still finding its feet, the set-piece vulnerability is a problem that needs solving, and the attack remains devastatingly good on its day. Fernandes in particular looks as sharp as ever, and the three points against Ipswich at least restored some calm after the Hull disaster. Carrick will know that a 2-0 loss to a newly promoted side on opening day isn't just forgotten with a 5-2 win at home the following week. There are things to fix. But the character shown in bouncing back the way they did was exactly what was needed.