Hull City v Manchester United: Premier League Preview, Gameweek 1
Harry Maguire (then of Hull City) pictured playing against Manchester United at Old Trafford (Image courtesy of Simon Stacpoole of Offside via Getty Images)
Since Hull City were last in the Premier League, the club has faced severe off-field issues, as well as a stint in League One in 2020/2021.
Their return to the Championship was not always smooth sailing either, as the season before their promotion, they finished 21st and narrowly avoided relegation back to the third tier.
Last season, however, under Sergej Jakirovic, the Tigers captured the proverbial lightning in a bottle as they finished 6th despite being relegation candidates at the start of the campaign.
Amidst all of the 'Spygate' drama, Hull then put up two very impressive performances to beat Millwall in the Play-off semi-final, before a dramatic stoppage-time Oli McBurnie goal sealed an unlikely return to the top flight.
Their first of many litmus tests comes against a Manchester United side that faced turmoil of their own last season, but under the tutelage of Michael Carrick were galvanised into table-topping second half of the season form, earning a return to the Champions League.
Whilst 12 wins in their last 17 league games make for impressive reading, the real test will surely come this season as to whether this United squad will be able to cope with the demands of both Premier League and Champions League duties.
An opening fixture against a team many predict to finish at the foot of the table could be seen as a huge opportunity to kickstart the new season in winning fashion.
However, United have made a habit of making life difficult for themselves in recent years, and almost exactly a year from the Grimsby debacle, there will be no corners cut in preparation for the visit to the MKM Stadium.
Team News - Hull City:
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HULL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 15: Jens Hjertø-Dahl of Hull City looks on during the pre-season friendly match between Hull City and OGC Nice at MKM Stadium on August 15, 2026 in Hull, England. (Photo by Tony King/Getty Images)
HULL, ENGLAND - AUGUST 15: Jens Hjertø-Dahl of Hull City looks on during the pre-season friendly match between Hull City and OGC Nice at MKM Stadium on August 15, 2026 in Hull, England. (Photo by Tony King/Getty Images)
Hull City have made 11 new signings in the off-season, but only three are likely to start on Gameweek 1.
Greek International goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis arrives with an impressive record from Olympiacos, and the 23-year-old looks a shoo-in to start with an injury to another new signing, Jack Butland.
Jens Hjerto-Dahl (Norwegian midfielder signed from Tromso) and Elliott Stroud (a wide player brought in from shock Swedish champions Mjallby) have both featured heavily in Pre-Season games and will likely start.
Matt Targett and Lucas Gourd-Douath both played just half an hour in the final Pre-Season game against OGC Nice, so starting them would prove to be an ambitious move from Jakirovic.
Joe Gephardt, Darko Gyabi, Charlie Hughes, Matty Jacob, Eliot Matazo and Oscar Zambrano will all miss out through injury.
Team News - Manchester United:
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MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 18: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Benjamin Sesko of Manchester United in action during a first team training session at Carrington Training Ground on August 18, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Charlotte Tattersall/Charlotte Tattersall - MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images)
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - AUGUST 18: (EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE) Benjamin Sesko of Manchester United in action during a first team training session at Carrington Training Ground on August 18, 2026 in Manchester, England. (Photo by Charlotte Tattersall/Charlotte Tattersall - MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Mathijs De Ligt has been out with a back injury since November, but is close to returning to fitness. The hope was that he may be involved in the squad for the Hull game despite not playing in pre-season, but that is now looking unlikely.
Likewise, Mason Mount is a player whose career has been plagued by injury. Having started Pre-Season in a positive manner, he picked up another knock and is now unlikely to feature against Hull, though it is expected to be a short-term absence.
Benjamin Sesko scored against Liverpool in the victory at Old Trafford that secured Champions League football back in May, but has been out since with injury.
However, there is optimism that the Slovenian will be able to play a part against Hull, likely off the bench.
New signing Karl Darlow is also injured, along with Tom Heaton, so Dermot Mee may well be on the bench as backup to Lammens.
Manuel Ugarte also remains unavailable.
Likely Lineups:
Hull City (4-3-3/4-2-3-1) -
Tzolakis (GK); Giles, Egan, Ajayi, Coyle; Slater, Crooks, Hjerto-Dahl; Stroud, McBurnie, Belloumi
Manchester United (4-2-3-1) -
Lammens; Shaw, Heaven, Maguire, Dalot; Andrey Santos, Tielemans; Cunha, Fernandes, Diallo; Mbeumo
Key Players:
Hull City - Konstantinos Tzolakis:
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Konstantinos Tzolakis plays during the match between FC Barcelona and Olympiacos FC, corresponding to Matchday 3 of the League phase of the UEFA Champions League, at the Lluis Companys Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, on October 21, 2025. (Photo by Joan Valls/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Konstantinos Tzolakis plays during the match between FC Barcelona and Olympiacos FC, corresponding to Matchday 3 of the League phase of the UEFA Champions League, at the Lluis Companys Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, on October 21, 2025. (Photo by Joan Valls/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Whether or not Hull struggle to the extent many expect this season remains to be seen, but there is no question that their goal will live a charmed life over the course of the campaign.
When the signing of Jack Butland from Rangers was made, with Ivor Pandur going the other way, question marks were raised as to whether Butland would be a viable Premier League No.1.
However, the signing of 23-year-old Tzolakis from Olympiacos certainly provides a lot of intrigue.
Already capped nine times by Greece, the 6ft4 keeper boasts a very impressive save percentage in the last two seasons with the Greek giants - 77.5% in 24/25 and 76.4% in 25/26, including 35 clean sheets across the two seasons as No.1.
The gulf in quality between the Greek Super League and the Premier League is worth noting, but if Tzolakis is able to step in and get up to speed against a United side likely to have a lot of chances, he could well prove to be the hero of the afternoon.
Manchester United - Bruno Fernandes:
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WROCLAW, POLAND - AUGUST 15: Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United in action during a Pre-Season Friendly match between AC Milan and Manchester United at Tarczynski Arena on August 15, 2026 in Wroclaw, Poland. (Photo by Ernest Kolodziej/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
WROCLAW, POLAND - AUGUST 15: Bruno Fernandes of Manchester United in action during a Pre-Season Friendly match between AC Milan and Manchester United at Tarczynski Arena on August 15, 2026 in Wroclaw, Poland. (Photo by Ernest Kolodziej/Eurasia Sport Images/Getty Images)
The new-look midfield pairing of Andrey Santos and Youri Tielemans will certainly be one to keep an eye out for against Hull, but against what will almost certainly be a low block, the maestro known as Bruno Fernandes will surely be at the heart of proceedings once again for United.
Fresh from breaking the all-time Premier League assist record last season, Bruno will be pivotal in unlocking the Tigers defence, as they will look to frustrate United to the best of their abilities.
After talks of a departure fizzled out before they started, Michael Carrick will be hoping his captain can do the talking on the pitch once again and help earn his side an opening day victory.