Man United face newly promoted Hull City as both sides kick off their season.
Hull vs Man UnitedSee All Odds
Manchester United begin their 2026-27 Premier League campaign with a trip to newly promoted Hull City, who return to the top flight for the first time in nine years. The Tigers will hope a raucous MKM Stadium can unsettle Michael Carrick's side, but the visitors arrive with significantly greater quality and European ambitions. United enjoyed an encouraging end to last season and have strengthened their midfield over the summer, while Hull's promotion campaign was built on determination rather than dominant underlying numbers.
Hull vs Man United Best Bet
Man United win & Both Teams to Score - 21/10 with Sky Bet
Manchester United are rightly strong favourites, but I am not convinced they will keep Hull out at the MKM Stadium.
The Tigers may have struggled to create consistently during their promotion campaign, but this is a completely different occasion. Their first Premier League home game in almost a decade should produce an intense atmosphere, while newly promoted sides often carry plenty of attacking freedom into their opening fixtures. The crowd are going to be behind the Tigers
There are also reasons to question United defensively. United have also been far more convincing going forward than defensively during pre-season, conceding four against AC Milan in their final warm-up.
Hull's main threat comes through Oliver McBurnie, who scored 18 times in the Championship last season. Even if the hosts ultimately lose, they have enough physicality and set-piece threat to cause United problems.
United should be too good for Hull, they've settled nicely under Carrick, they have too much quality up front not to outscore a Hull side that conceded 63 goals in the Championship last season.
United also have an excellent record in Premier League season openers against promoted opposition, winning nine and drawing three of their 12 such matches.
Who is favourite to win Hull vs Man United?
There is a sizeable gulf between the two clubs on paper, and that is reflected in the match odds.
Manchester United are clear favourites after finishing third in the Premier League last season and qualifying for the Champions League. Carrick's impact since taking charge has also been significant, with United collecting more points than any other Premier League team from his appointment until the end of last season.
The visitors have strengthened their midfield with Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, while Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha give them considerable attacking quality. Benjamin Sesko is also back in training, although he is unlikely to be ready to start.
Hull, meanwhile, squeezed into the Premier League through the Championship play-offs despite finishing sixth and posting some concerning underlying numbers. They faced 681 shots last season, the second-highest total in the division, while their xG difference was -20.6.
The Tigers will have the home crowd behind them, but United's superior quality makes them the obvious favourites.
Hull vs Man United Bet Builder
Bryan Mbeumo to score or assist + Both teams to score + Harry Maguire to be fouled @4/1
The standout player angle is Bryan Mbeumo, who is expected to operate through the middle with Sesko unlikely to be ready for a starting role.
Mbeumo enjoyed an encouraging pre-season and enters the campaign as one of United's main attacking outlets. He scored twice against Atletico Madrid, found the net against PSG and supplied an assist against Leeds, while his first Premier League season at United produced 11 goals and three assists.
His positioning should be particularly interesting here. Rather than being restricted to the right flank, Mbeumo can drift into central areas, combine with Bruno Fernandes and Cunha and attack a Hull defence that conceded the third-most shots in the Championship last season.
That makes Mbeumo to score or assist an attractive first leg of the builder.
I'm also keeping both teams to score from the main bet. United have enough attacking quality to score at least once, but Hull's home advantage, McBurnie's aerial threat and potential uncertainty at centre-back give the hosts a realistic route to a goal.
The final leg is Harry Maguire to be fouled. Hull are likely to defend aggressively and attack set-piece situations at the other end, while Maguire's physical style makes him a natural target in aerial duels. With McBurnie leading the line for Hull, there should be plenty of contests between the two.
McBurnie averaged 1.61 fouls committed per 90 in the Championship
Maguire won 16 fouls across his 19 starts in the Premier League last season (0.87 per 90).
Hull vs Man United Predicted Lineups
Hull
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Predicted Starting Lineup: Tzolakis; Coyle, Ajayi, Mendy, Giles; Crooks, Slater; Belloumi, Hjertø-Dahl, Stroud; McBurnie
Man Utd
Formation: 4-2-3-1
Predicted Starting Lineup: Lammens; Dalot, Martínez, Maguire, Shaw; Santos, Tielemans; Diallo, Fernandes, Cunha; Mbeumo
Hull vs Man United Prediction
I don't think this is a game United will simply cruise through. Hull's first Premier League home match in nine years should make the MKM Stadium a difficult environment, and Carrick has himself warned against treating the opening fixtures against promoted sides as an easy run.
However, United have considerably more attacking quality and arrive with the momentum of a strong finish to last season. The midfield additions of Tielemans and Andrey Santos should also give Carrick more control, while Mbeumo, Cunha and Fernandes provide enough creativity to eventually break Hull down.
Prediction: Hull 1-2 Man United
Hull vs Man United Yellow Card Tip
The referee is Darren England, who averaged 4.39 yellow cards per Premier League match last season, putting him among the division's stricter officials.
The last time McBurnie played in the Premier League he picked up 3 yellows in 21 appearances. He picked up 9 yellows last season.
Up against Harry Maguire expect a physical duel between these two and with the roaring home crowd this could easily become a fiery affair.
