New season, same frustration for Manchester United, who suffered a two-nil opening day loss to newly-promoted Hull City under their now-permanent manager Michael Carrick.
The BBC’s Chief Football Writer Phil McNulty joined Box2Box following the Premier League’s opening matchday for season 2026/27, casting judgement on ‘more of the same’ from the Red Devils.
‘There’s always that worry when as a big team and you get to the fixture list and you’re away to a newly promoted team on the first day of the season. In many cases, it’s a bit of an accident waiting to happen,’ said McNulty.
‘But once again, Manchester United were so poor. They never really looked like they were going to turn that situation around once Hull went two goals ahead at half-time.
‘I think Carrick did so well to get them top third and back into the Champions League last season… but he hasn’t really been a success in management apart from that. He was sacked at Middlesbrough, but United feel he’s a safe pair of hands that they need to take them forward. Whether he’s the long term answer – we’ll see.’
Catch the full interview below including Phil’s thoughts on Roberto De Zerbi’s woeful Tottenham, Unai Emery’s unhappy Aston Villa and Xabi Alonso’s new era at Chelsea.