Man Utd lose season opener at Hull

‘CARRY ON’: ‘ We just don’t all have to shout and scream, and create some chaos,’ coach Carrick said, adding that ‘Calmness doesn’t mean there is not emotion’

Michael Carrick insisted he would not blast his Manchester United’s flops despite a dismal 2-0 defeat at Hull City in their opening game of the English Premier League season, while big-spending Tottenham Hotspur slumped to an embarrassing 3-0 loss against Brentford.

Carrick’s side were rocked by first-half goals from Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy at the MKM Stadium on Saturday.

Hull, who are back in the Premier League for the first time since 2017, were without 10 players due to injury, but still put woeful United to the sword with a vibrant display.

Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes, left, and coach Michael Carrick after their English Premier League match against Hull City at MKM Stadium in Hull, England, on Saturday.

Photo: Reuters

It was a chastening start for United, who are expected to mount a title challenge after finishing third last term.

There was scant evidence that United are capable of going toe-to-toe with champions Arsenal.

However, the stoic Carrick was determined to keep his composure to avoid the kind of emotional outburst that doomed his sacked predecessor Ruben Amorim last season.

“We came here to win, so to not take anything away is hugely disappointing. It is not a nice feeling, but it is not going to change our direction as a team or a club,” Carrick said. “You have to carry on as normal. We just don’t all have to shout and scream, and create some chaos. Calmness doesn’t mean there is not emotion.”

Tottenham have splashed out more than ￡200 million (US$273 million) to improve a squad that narrowly avoided relegation to the EFL Championship on the final day of last season.

Roberto De Zerbi gave debuts to four of his new recruits as Sandro Tonali, Andrew Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke all started, while Mateus Fernandes came off the bench in the second half.

However, Brentford, assembled on a fraction of Tottenham’s budget, ran riot in west London with a dynamic display that exposed the flaws in the visitors’ costly rebuilding plan. Keane Lewis-Potter and Vitaly Janelt netted for Keith Andrews’ side in the first half before Michael Kayode struck after the interval.

It could have been even worse for Tottenham as Igor Thiago missed a penalty that would have put Brentford four up.

Pierre Sage, Crystal Palace’s new French manager, endured a miserable start in a 2-0 loss at Everton.

Under Sage’s predecessor, Oliver Glasner, the Eagles won the FA Cup in 2024-2025 and the UEFA Conference League last season.

However, Glasner left for Nottingham Forest in the close-season, with Sage hired after leading Lens to a second-place finish in French Ligue 1 and a French Cup triumph last season.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall gave Everton the lead against the run of play in the 42nd minute, dispossessing Daniel Munoz before lashing a powerful shot into the far corner of Dean Henderson’s net.

Thierno Barry added to Sage’s misery with a bullet header from Iliman Ndiaye’s 53rd minute cross.

Glasner’s first game as Forest boss ended in a 1-0 defeat against Leeds at the City Ground.

Anton Stach’s 88th minute free-kick squirmed past Forest keeper Matz Sels to seal the points for Leeds, who face Glasner’s men again in the English League Cup second round tomorrow.

Ipswich marked their return to the Premier League with a dramatic 2-1 win against Sunderland at Portman Road.

Emersonn put Ipswich ahead with a debut goal in the 24th minute before Nilson Angulo equalized in the 39th minute with a fine free-kick.

Jack Clarke curled home in the 90th minute, giving Gary O’Neil a victory in his first game as Ipswich boss after replacing Kieran McKenna.