Hull’s Premier League Return: Bold Calls and United Surprise
The first 12.30pm BST kick-off of the new Premier League season drops Hull City straight into the deep end. Newly promoted, back in the big time, and staring down Manchester United at the MKM Stadium.
Sergej Jakirovic has leaned heavily on the players who got Hull here. Eight of his starting XI came up from the Championship, a clear show of faith on opening day. Hull might have pushed into double figures for summer signings, but only three start this one: Konstantinos Tzolakis, Nobel Mendy and Elliot Stroud all make their full competitive debuts.
Mendy replaces fellow new arrival Jens Hjerto-Dahl in the only change from Hull’s final pre-season friendly. That tweak hints at something more significant. Jakirovic appears to have rolled out a wing-back system, a shape he occasionally used in the Championship in 2025/26 but kept under wraps during this summer’s warm-ups.
There’s plenty of Fantasy Premier League interest in the home side too. Budget midfielders Charlie Slater and Matt Crooks anchor the engine room, both priced at £4.5m in FPL. Behind them, the value defenders are everywhere: five £4.0m options are involved, including debutant Mendy.
Up top, Hull go with Belloumi and McBurnie, with Stroud and Giles expected to offer width and legs from deeper areas.
United spring an early shock
On the other side, Manchester United arrive with an unexpected absentee. Amad Diallo, widely tipped to start, misses out with what BBC reporter Simon Stone describes as a “niggle”.
His absence forces a reshuffle. Bryan Mbeumo, benched in the defeat to AC Milan in United’s final pre-season outing, comes into the XI in Amad’s place. That decision also helps Matheus Cunha keep his spot in the side, the Brazilian retaining his role in the attack.
There is continuity elsewhere. Compared to that Milan friendly, Amad for Mbeumo is the only change to the starting line-up.
Two notable names return to the matchday squad despite disrupted summers. Benjamin Sesko and Karl Darlow both make the bench after missing the entirety of United’s pre-season programme. And there’s a familiar face back in the fold: Marcus Rashford is among the substitutes, his first appearance in a competitive United squad since December 2024.
The XIs in full
Hull City XI: Tzolakis; Mendy, Egan, Ajayi, Coyle; Crooks, Slater; Giles, Stroud; Belloumi, McBurnie.
Subs: Phillips, Millar, Hjerto-Dahl, McNair, Drameh, Herrington, Targett, Dowell, Gourna-Douath.
Manchester United XI: Lammens; Mazraoui, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw; Santos, Tielemans; Mbeumo, Fernandes, Dorgu; Cunha.
Subs: Darlow, Dalot, Martinez, Rashford, Zirkzee, Yoro, Sesko, Lacey, Mainoo.
Hull lean on chemistry, United on depth and firepower. The curtain goes up at the MKM Stadium with both sides already under scrutiny: can Hull’s core survive the step up, and how quickly will United’s new-look attack click?
