Manchester United opened their Premier League campaign with a surprising 2-0 defeat at promoted Hull City on Saturday, prompting left-back Luke Shaw to vow that the club will recover quickly and deliver a strong season. Despite entering the match as heavy favourites, United struggled to break down Hull’s defence and conceded both goals from first-half set-pieces, scored by Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy.
The loss marked Hull’s first-ever Premier League victory over Manchester United and came in their first top-flight match since 2017. United’s performance fell short of the standards they set last season when they finished third in the league. Shaw, the club’s longest-serving player, acknowledged the setback but emphasized that the result would not define their campaign.
“We had the same hope as the fans,” Shaw said after the match. “It will be a very good season from us, I’m sure of it. We’ll be up there. This is a little blip. It’s not nice to happen at the start of the season when our expectations are high, but one game won’t define us. We’ll regroup and go again.”
Shaw also highlighted the need for better preparation, particularly in defending set-pieces, an area that former United striker Wayne Rooney criticized sharply, labeling the defending for Hull’s second goal as “schoolboy.” Shaw agreed that the team needs to improve collectively and admitted Hull’s intensity and hunger presented a tough challenge, typical of a newly promoted side eager to make their mark.
“We knew what we were coming into — a passionate, hungry newly promoted team with a great atmosphere,” Shaw said. “At half-time, we felt we could come back and win the game, but we lacked that cutting edge in the final third. No excuses, though. It’s better to happen now so we can refocus for the next game.”
United’s next fixture is against another promoted club, Ipswich Town, at Old Trafford on Sunday, where they will aim for a more commanding performance.
Elsewhere in the Premier League, Manchester City secured a dramatic 2-1 victory over Bournemouth in the Etihad Stadium on Sunday, delivering a crucial win in Enzo Maresca’s first league match as City’s manager. Bournemouth appeared to be holding on for a draw until Josko Gvardiol struck a stoppage-time winner following a VAR review that overturned an initial offside call. Bournemouth’s Marc Guehi had earlier equalized in the 84th minute after an opening goal from Newcastle’s Marcus Tavernier, but Gvardiol’s late effort sealed the points.
Maressca, who took over the club following Pep Guardiola’s departure, experienced a tense introduction to Premier League management but ultimately had reason to celebrate after City created multiple scoring chances throughout the game. Striker Erling Haaland, sporting a new haircut, and Guehi both missed good opportunities during the match.
Brighton & Hove Albion continued their strong start to the season with a convincing 4-0 win over Aston Villa at home. Jack Hinshelwood scored twice in quick succession early in the first half, while Maxim De Cuyper and an own goal by Villa’s Victor Lindelof added to the visitors’ woes. Villa’s midfielder Joao Gomes was sent off on his league debut shortly before halftime, adding to a difficult afternoon as the club copes with a summer squad overhaul.