Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy both scored to give Hull City a perfect return to the Premier League as they beat Manchester United 2-0 at MKM Stadium.

The Tigers, back in the top-flight for the first time since 2016-17, put in a stunning performance to clinch three points for the first time against United in the competition.

Ajayi reacted quickest to turn in their opener from a corner, and Mendy was equally clinical to head in a free-kick before the break, with United unable to find a way back into the match.

Hull gave United an early warning when Lewie Coyle sent a teasing cross to the far post, and Noussair Mazraoui got there just ahead of Oli McBurnie, but at the other end, Bryan Mbeumo then put his laces through a lovely volley, with Konstantinos Tzolakis getting a strong hand behind it.

Ryan Giles' cross caught out United's backline, but Senne Lammens, who had already made a sharp stop to deny McBurnie, was alert to tip it over the bar.

And Hull profited from the resulting corner. Lammens pushed McBurnie's stretching back-post shot against the post off the line, but Ajayi pounced on the loose ball to fire in a 17th-minute opener.

Mbeumo went for the spectacular with an overhead kick that was blocked before Hull caused more issues from set-pieces as Mendy headed in Regan Slater's free-kick after 38 minutes.

Hull continued to keep United at bay after the break, despite Marcus Rashford – playing for the first time since late 2024 – causing plenty of problems with his pace.

But it was the Tigers who still looked a bigger threat, with Mohamed Belloumi bending a shot over the crossbar after cutting inside from the right and Cody Drameh fizzing a low effort just wide.

Mbeumo raced in behind after Cunha had carved open Hull's backline, but he could only fire at Tzolakis, who marked his Hull debut with a clean sheet.

Came through the back door. Left with three points. pic.twitter.com/H2HpiQFvl6

— Hull City (@HullCity) August 22, 2026

The Tigers announce their presence

Having become the first sixth-placed Championship team to be promoted since Blackpool in 2010, Hull started their Premier League campaign with a bang.

Never before had they beaten United in the competition, going 10 games without a victory against the Red Devils (D2 L8), but Sergej Jakirovic's team set down a marker by ending that run.

They took the fight to United, taking advantage of some slack set-piece defending; since Michael Carrick's first game back in charge of the club, only four teams have conceded more top-flight goals from corners than the Red Devils (six).

By doubling their lead before half-time, Hull scored more goals against United in the first half of this match than they had across their previous five Premier League meetings beforehand combined (one).

United racked up 21 shots, with five of those on target, but Tzolakis was only seriously troubled on a couple of occasions, despite the 1.81 expected goals (xG) the Red Devils accumulated.

But every time Hull have held a 2+ goal lead at half-time, they have gone on to win (five occasions), and this is exactly the confidence boost they needed to start the season.