Set pieces sink Manchester United as promoted Hull mark their return with a shock win

Newly promoted Hull City stun Manchester United 2-0 at the MKM Stadium in the opener of their 2026-27 Premier League season, both goals coming from set pieces before half-time. Everton beat Crystal Palace 2-0, Ipswich Town edged Sunderland 2-1 with a 90th-minute winner, and Anton Stach’s late free kick gave Leeds United a 1-0 win at Nottingham Forest.

Hull, England: Opta gave Manchester United a 68.9 per cent chance of winning this match. Hull City were rated at 12.2.

Ninety minutes later the newly promoted side had two goals, three points and the first genuine shock of the season — and Michael Carrick, in his first full campaign as permanent manager, had a squad that could not defend a set piece.

Slater’s Afternoon

Both goals came from the same source. Regan Slater delivered a corner in the 17th minute that was flicked on and scrambled home by Semi Ajayi from close range, and then a free kick to the back post in the 38th that Nobel Mendy redirected in with a powerful header.

United, who finished third last season and began this one with new arrivals Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans in midfield, had started on the front foot and played some tidy possession football. It counted for nothing against two deliveries into their box.

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They toiled through the second half without ever looking likely to rescue anything. Marcus Rashford, unveiled before kick-off in the No. 9 shirt after returning from a loan at Barcelona, began on the bench and came on at half-time. Carrick described the defeat as hugely disappointing; captain Bruno Fernandes pointed to the same mistakes recurring.

For Hull it is a return to the top flight after nine years to remember. Sergej Jakirovic’s side came up through the play-offs, beating Middlesbrough at Wembley with a 95th-minute Oli McBurnie winner, and went into Saturday with as many as nine first-team players unavailable. Most observers have them down for an immediate return to the Championship. They have three points and Manchester United do not.

Everton Comfortable Against Palace

Two sides who ended last season badly — neither won any of their final seven league matches — met with something to prove, and Everton had considerably more of it.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall put them ahead in the 42nd minute and Thierno Barry added a second in the 53rd. Palace, who had also lost 3-0 to Freiburg in their final pre-season outing, offered little in reply. A 2-0 win, and a deserved one.

Clarke Wins It at the Death

Ipswich Town’s return to the Premier League began the way their promotion season often went — late, and in their favour.

Emersonn put the hosts ahead in the 24th minute before Nicolás Angulo levelled with a free kick in the 39th, and the match stayed at 1-1 deep into stoppage time. Then Jack Clarke found a second in the 90th to settle it. Sunderland, seventh last season, had been level until the final minute and leave with nothing.

Stach Settles a Stalemate

At the City Ground, Nottingham Forest and Leeds United looked set for a goalless draw between two sides who finished three points apart last season.

Anton Stach ended that in the 88th minute with a free kick that Forest’s wall and goalkeeper could do nothing about. Leeds take three points from a fixture that promised, and largely delivered, very little.

Still to Come

Brentford host Tottenham later on Saturday, with Brighton, Manchester City, Newcastle, Liverpool, Fulham and Chelsea all in action across Sunday and Monday. The opening weekend has already produced one result nobody forecast.

Results — Premier League 2026-27, Matchweek 1 (Saturday)
Hull City 2-0 Manchester United (Semi Ajayi 17′, Nobel Mendy 38′)
Everton 2-0 Crystal Palace (Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall 42′, Thierno Barry 53′)
Ipswich Town 2-1 Sunderland (Emersonn 24′, Jack Clarke 90′; Nicolás Angulo 39′)
Nottingham Forest 0-1 Leeds United (Anton Stach 88′)