Hull City beat Manchester United 2-0 on the opening day of the 2026-27 Premier League season. The match, played at the Etihad Stadium, saw Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy score for the Tigers.
A shock start for Hull City
The 2-0 victory was Hull’s first Premier League win against United, a club they had not beaten in a league match since November 1974 when both sides were in the second tier. The result also gave Hull a 66.7% win rate from their first six opening-season matches, the highest such percentage in Premier League history.
Key performers
Semi Ajayi, whose only previous Premier League experience came in the 2020-21 season with West Brom, opened the scoring after a saved shot from Oli McBurnie. Ajayi made five clearances and won all his aerial and ground duels. Nobel Mendy, a recent signing from Rayo Vallecano, added a second goal and proved a solid defensive partner for Ajayi. Both players were highlighted as crucial for Hull’s survival hopes.
Premier League context
Hull’s win also marked their first league victory over Manchester United in a Premier League match, and their first opening-day defeat for United against a newly promoted side in 14 attempts. United had a combined 43 shots in their last two season-beginning fixtures without scoring. Hull’s 2-0 win is the fourth Premier League opening-day loss for United in the last seven seasons.
Brentford also cause a shock
Brentford finished the day with a 3-0 win over Tottenham Hotspur. The victory was secured by goals from Lewis-Potter, Janelt and Kayode. Brentford’s new signing Mamadou Sangare, who was bought for €48 million (£41.1 m), provided an assist and was named player of the match.
Other opening-week results
At 3 pm, Everton beat Crystal Palace 2-0, while Leeds United defeated Nottingham Forest 1-0. Ipswich Town won 2-1 over Sunderland, with goals from Emersonn and Clarke, and an assist from Angulo. The day’s results also included a 3-0 win for Brentford over Tottenham.
Implications for the season
Hull’s unexpected triumph over a title-contender has put them in the spotlight and may give them a psychological edge in the early part of the campaign. Brentford’s convincing win over Tottenham, a club that spent heavily in the summer, has raised questions about the effectiveness of the Spurs’ new signings. The opening day has already set the tone for a season full of surprises.
Managerial reactions
Tottenham manager Roberto De Zerbi apologised for the defeat, saying “We were not ready to fight in the duels. We made a lot of mistakes in pressure moments.” Brentford’s Nathan Collins described the win as “the start we wanted” and praised the squad’s improvement since last season.
FPL impact
The opening weekend saw Hull’s Nobel Mendy and Semi Ajayi top the fantasy points list with 15 and 14 points respectively, while Brentford’s Michael Kayode and Mamadou Sangare also earned 14 points each.
The day’s results have already reshaped the Premier League table, with Arsenal leading on goal difference and Brentford close behind. Hull’s shock win over United has made headlines and will be remembered as one of the most memorable moments of the season’s opening weekend.
