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MKM Stadium, Kingston upon Hull
Saturday 22 August, 12:30pm
Hull City's return to the Premier League after nine years away begins with about as stern a test as the fixture list could produce, a home date with a Manchester United side that finished third last season and head back into the Champions League. Michael Carrick has the visitors playing with real conviction after taking permanent charge in January, while Sergej Jakirovic still has selection puzzles to solve after a chaotic injury list picked up during preparations for the top flight. If you fancy backing your instincts on this one, our best new betting sites in the UK round-up is worth a look before kick-off.
United arrive as heavy favourites on paper, and the numbers back that up, but a newly promoted side with a rebuilt squad and a raucous MKM Stadium behind them is rarely a total pushover on the opening weekend.
Preview: Hull City vs Manchester United
Nine years is a long time to wait, and Hull's first Premier League match at the MKM Stadium since 2017 could hardly have thrown up a bigger opening test, a home date with the side that finished third last season.
Getting here took some nerve too. Jakirovic's side edged past Millwall in the play-off semi final, a goalless draw at home followed by victory in the away leg, and then Oli McBurnie's stoppage time finish settled the final against Middlesbrough to send the club back to the top flight.
The rebuild since has been extensive. 11 new arrivals have come through the door at the MKM Stadium, headlined by a club record fee for centre-back Nobel Mendy from Rayo Vallecano, and much of that new spine has never played a competitive minute together at this level.
With so much of the defence and midfield unavailable through injury, the attacking responsibility falls heavily on the fit players in the final third, Mohamed Belloumi, Jens Hjerto-Dahl and Elliot Stroud in behind McBurnie, none of whom have started a Premier League match for the club before.
Hull actually began their summer well, back-to-back wins over Caykur Rizespor and Konyaspor, before draws with Kasimpasa and Nice sandwiched a defeat to Eintracht Frankfurt, a run that still points to a team searching for its final shape.
Man United made genuine progress after Carrick's appointment in January last season, securing a third-placed finish, some way clear of where the club had been the year before and good enough to convince the board to remove his interim tag and commit to a permanent role over the summer.
Bruno Fernandes was the league's chief creator last season with a record breaking tally of assists, and he remains the man opponents have to account for above anyone else in the United ranks, with Bryan Mbeumo's own return of goals and created chances giving Carrick a second reliable outlet.
There has been squad business at Old Trafford as well, with Andrey Santos arriving from Chelsea and Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa to freshen the midfield, while Rasmus Hojlund was sold to Napoli and Casemiro, Jadon Sancho and Tyrell Malacia departed for nothing at the end of their contracts.
During pre-season, Man United lost their opening game 1-0 to Wrexham before wins against Rosenborg, 5-0, and Atletico Madrid, 2-1, followed by 1-1 draws with Paris Saint-Germain and Leeds. However, the Red Devils ended their pre-season with a chastening 4-2 defeat to AC Milan, now managed by former Man United boss Ruben Amorim.
Man United's underlying numbers during pre-season are hard to ignore, including 11 goals scored across their last five games, output that suggests goals at both ends again on Saturday if it carries over into the league fixture.
Hull City vs Manchester United team news
Hull City
Eight senior players are already ruled out before a ball has been kicked in the top flight, a brutal list for a squad still bedding in so many new faces. Jack Butland, Charlie Hughes, Paddy McNair, Hidemasa Morita, Eliot Matazo, Oscar Zambrano, Darko Gyabi and Joe Gelhardt are all confirmed absentees.
Two further names carry doubts, Cody Drameh and Matty Jacob, and Jakirovic will hope at least one of the pair is fit enough to make the bench on Saturday.
Oli McBurnie, the man who scored the play-off final winner, is available and expected to lead the line regardless of the chaos around him.
Manchester United
United's list is shorter but still notable in defence, with Matthijs de Ligt continuing his recovery from a back problem and Manuel Ugarte out for the long haul after a cruciate injury suffered on World Cup duty for Uruguay.
Benjamin Sesko is a doubt and unlikely to be risked from the start, leaving Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo as the more reliable attacking options on current fitness. Tom Heaton and Mason Mount round out the doubtful list.
Marcus Rashford is back at the club following his loan spell at Barcelona and is available for selection, though his long term future remains unresolved.
Hull City vs Manchester United predicted XIs
Predicted Hull City XI (4-2-3-1): Tzolakis; Coyle, Ajayi, Mendy, Giles; Slater, Crooks; Belloumi, Hjerto-Dahl, Stroud; McBurnie.
Hull City
Predicted Manchester United XI (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Heaven, Shaw; Santos, Tielemans; Diallo, Fernandes, Dorgu; Mbeumo.
Manchester United
Head-to-head: Hull City vs Manchester United
These sides have not met since that Old Trafford stalemate in February 2017, a run stretching back nearly a decade, so the head-to-head record carries context rather than predictive weight for Saturday.
Of the last five meetings, United won two, Hull won one and two finished level, with the sole Hull victory coming in a League Cup semi final second leg at the MKM Stadium the same month.
Nearly every player involved in that last meeting has since left both clubs, with the exception of Marcus Rashford still being at Manchester United, which is as clear a sign as any that this is effectively a first-time contest between the current squads rather than a genuine rivalry renewal.
Our Hull City vs Manchester United prediction and tips
United's control of games and Hull's inexperience at this level both point one way, but the value in the market is less obvious than the simple match result. For a wider spread of markets across the weekend, our how to bet on sports guide is a useful starting point if you are new to any of this.
- United have kept a clean sheet in one of their last five games, away at Rosenborg.
- Hull's only defeat in their last five competitive matches came away at Charlton Athletic, in a game that did not affect their play-off position.
- Bruno Fernandes set a Premier League record last season with 21 assists in a single campaign.
- Hull go into the match with 11 summer signings in the squad, including a club record fee for centre-back Nobel Mendy.
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Ellis has been working as a freelance sports writer since graduating from University in 2023. He is especially passionate about football, with a particular love for Manchester United.