Ajayi fires promoted Hull to dream start against misfiring Manchester United

<p>Ever since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement 13 years ago, Manchester United have been stuck in football’s equivalent of purgatory and a chastening experience in Hull suggests they could be there a while longer. Michael Carrick’s permanent appointment was supposed to hail a new era at Old Trafford but very little has changed based on this defeat.</p><p>United were sluggish from start to finish and rightly punished for failing to defend set-pieces with any degree of competence. Centre-backs Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy earned the Tigers the prized scalp upon their <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/may/23/hull-middlesbrough-championship-playoff-final-match-report">return to the Premier League</a>, while United are left to ponder if the squad requires more invasive surgery before the transfer window closes.</p> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2026/aug/22/hull-manchester-united-premier-league-match-report">Continue reading...</a>