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Michael Carrick's four big mistakes as Man Utd suffer embarrassing Hull defeat Manchester United's 2026-27 Premier League season began badly as they lost to newcomers Hull City away from home. Manchester United suffered an abysmal, and frankly embarrassing, start to the new Premier League season with a 2-0 defeat at newly-promoted Hull City. The Red Devils conceded from two first-half set-pieces, with Semi Ajayi lashing in the opener after a brilliant Senne Lammens save to deny Oli McBurnie at a corner. And 21 minutes later, Hull led 2-0 when Nobel Mendy flicked in a header from Regan Slater's free-kick. Despite half-time and second-half substitutions, United failed to muster a fightback with their attack well below standard. They couldn't even get on the scoresheet with Bryan Mbeumo going closest one-vs-one as their 2026-27 campaign began badly in Michael Carrick's first competitive match as permanent manager. Express Sport singles out four big mistakes Carrick made in a morale-sapping defeat... Starting Dorgu left wing Patrick Dorgu was surprisingly effective as a left winger for Carrick last season before his injury at Arsenal. But here he was dreadful and did virtually nothing right in the first half, losing possession multiple times and losing six of his seven duels, committing four fouls and failing to complete a successful dribble. It was a surprise to absolutely nobody that the 21-year-old Dane was brought off for Marcus Rashford at half-time. At least Carrick only took 45 minutes to try and rectify his error. But by then it was too late. He will regret starting Dorgu over Rashford, especially because the decision to start Matheus Cunha through the middle didn't work either. Starting Mbeumo out wide Bryan Mbeumo shone in pre-season in a centre-forward role, but was pushed back out to the right in favour of Cunha on Humberside. It was a tactical set-up that just didn't work as Cunha consistently dropped too deep. In Carrick's defence, he will feel he was forced into the decision because of Amad Diallo's absence. But using Mbeumo in the free role in the middle would have made the United attack far deadlier. It was the Cameroonian who looked the most dangerous forward for the visitors at the MKM Stadium, yet he was not platformed properly by his manager. Carrick should have kept Mbeumo central, Cunha on the left and then come up with a makeshift solution on the right. EXPRESS SPORT ON FB! Get all the best sports news and much more on our Facebook page Heaven and Mazraoui over Yoro and Dalot United's best defender in pre-season was Leny Yoro. Yet the Frenchman was benched in favour of Ayden Heaven alongside Harry Maguire against Hull. But Heaven was in hell here. He was bullied throughout, with United failing to command their box for crosses and set-pieces. Even Maguire stood idly by as he watched Ajayi score from close range. The Englishman helped prove why he was dropped from his country's World Cup squad because, for the opener, he was actually too busy holding his own team-mate, Noussair Mazraoui. The Moroccan's inclusion was also an error, as he was another way below the standard. Diogo Dalot should replace him against Ipswich Town next Sunday. The Tielemans and Santos partnership The United midfield was run through on multiple occasions in a friendly loss against AC Milan last weekend. Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos simply struggled to cover enough ground in a two-man pivot. But Carrick still went with the same duo at Hull and paid the price. They both lasted just 67 minutes. The £70million Carlos Baleba better get ready to run because his mobility is going to be crucial to make this new-look midfield work. At home, especially on the ball, Tielemans and Santos may fare better, but in combative away matches like this one, more athleticism is needed.