Manchester United vs Hull City: Carrick's New Era Begins
Manchester United’s second‑half specialists are back. No side collected more points after the interval in the Premier League last season than United’s 41 from 19 games. Now the question hangs over Michael Carrick: was that surge just the bounce of a mid-season appointment, or the start of something far more serious?
This time there are no excuses. No “free hit” after a January arrival, no clear midweeks to quietly reset. A Champions League campaign looms, and with it the kind of fixture congestion that exposes soft spots in any squad and any manager.
Carrick has to prove that last season’s storming finish wasn’t a one-off.
Hull’s long road back
Hull City return to the Premier League after a decade away, and they’ve done it the hard way. Sixth in the Championship. Into the playoffs by the skin of their teeth. Then a 1-0 win over Middlesbrough at Wembley to drag themselves back into the top flight.
They now step into a brutal opener.
Hull v Man Utd kicks off at 12.30pm BST on Saturday, August 22 at the MKM Stadium, with TNT Sports 1 and TNT Sports Ultimate showing the game live in the UK from 12pm. TalkSPORT will carry full radio commentary.
For Sergej Jakirovic, the build-up has been a headache. And not the tactical kind.
- Jack Butland, ruled out
- Joe Gelhardt, ruled out
- Eliot Matazo, ruled out
- Darko Gyabi, ruled out
- Oscar Zambrano, ruled out
- Charlie Hughes, ruled out
- Cody Drameh, in the “wait and see” category
- Matty Jacob, in the “wait and see” category
It is not the ideal platform from which to welcome one of the division’s heavyweights.
Carrick’s new-look United
United, by contrast, arrive with expectation hanging over them and a refreshed spine to show off.
Carrick is set to hand starts to summer signings Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos as United chase a record 23rd victory in Premier League opening fixtures. The club has built a reputation for starting seasons fast; this year, that early statement feels even more important.
Up front, the plan is taking shape. Benjamin Sesko has returned to training after a shin problem but remains a doubt, so Bryan Mbeumo is primed to lead the line after catching the eye across pre-season. Three goals in those warm-up games have pushed him to the front of the queue.
Behind him, there are more moving parts. Mason Mount, who impressed in pre-season before a foot injury in a 1-1 draw with PSG, faces a late fitness test. Karl Darlow, absent throughout pre-season, is now back in training and could force his way onto the bench.
At the back, Ayden Heaven may be thrust into the spotlight. The youngster could partner Harry Maguire in central defence, with Lisandro Martinez only just back from his World Cup final run with Argentina and still working towards full sharpness.
Matthijs de Ligt has not played since November because of a back issue. He is training again, but this game comes too soon. Manuel Ugarte will not be seen for a while either, after suffering a serious knee injury with Uruguay at the World Cup. Carrick’s midfield plans for the season have already taken a hit.
History, odds and where the value lies
The numbers are brutal for Hull.
They have never beaten United in 10 previous Premier League meetings. United have won eight of those and drawn the rest. On top of that, United have never lost a top-flight game when facing a newly-promoted side on the opening weekend, winning nine of 12 such matches.
Carrick’s own record against Hull is strong too: four wins from six managerial meetings.
The bookmakers have taken note. United are 4/11 favourites to win. Hull are 7/1 to finally break their Premier League duck against them. The draw is 4/1.
Title odds underline where United sit in the wider picture: 9/1 fifth favourites, behind 6/5 Arsenal, 7/2 Man City, 11/2 Liverpool and 8/1 Chelsea.
So where’s the angle if the match result looks almost pre-written?
Look to the creators and finishers. Bruno Fernandes set a Premier League record with 21 assists last season and is 13/8 to register another here. Mbeumo, with those three pre-season goals and the likely starting role through the middle, is another obvious focal point.
Combine the two and the story writes itself: Fernandes to assist, Mbeumo to score anytime is priced at 7/2. If United’s second-half machine picks up where it left off, that might be the way this new Carrick era truly announces its intentions.
