Given the teams’ differing aspirations this term, many will have expected the Red Devils to walk over their hosts. That wasn’t the case at all, though, with Hull giving as good as they got early on.
Shortly after Konstantinos Tzolakis had denied Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, Oli McBurnie’s towering header forced a save from Senne Lammens.
Ryan Giles then saw his effort tipped over the crossbar and McBurnie was denied again from the ensuing corner, as Lammens tipped the ball onto the post, only for a perfectly placed Semi Ajayi to score the Tigers’ dream opener and inspire rapturous celebrations.
With the visitors searching for an equaliser, Patrick Dorgu had two promising openings, being found by Bruno Fernandes and Harry Maguire but missing the target on both occasions.
Mbeumo then saw his acrobatic attempt deflected behind by debutant Nobel Mendy, who made his mark at the other end shortly after, clinically guiding Regan Slater’s pinpoint free-kick delivery past Lammens.
John Egan then blocked a Fernandes attempt to ensure Hull entered the break with their deserved two-goal lead intact.
Michael Carrick responded by bringing Marcus Rashford on for Dorgu, yet his side still struggled against a resolute Tigers defence, with Ayden Heaven’s header sailing harmlessly off-target.
Hull were also filled with confidence going forward, as encapsulated by McBurnie embarking on a mazy run and Mohamed Belloumi hitting a strike from range that eventually cleared the crossbar.
They were still dealt blows with Mendy and Lewie Coyle going off injured within seven minutes of each other, yet they refused to falter, and Cody Drameh came agonisingly close after replacing the latter.
Tzolakis had little to do for much of the first half but did well to tip Mbeumo’s shot wide when called upon.
And with time running out, Maguire fired a speculative shot straight at him as Sergej Jakirović’s side sent a message to the PL on the day he became the first Bosnian to manage in the league.
Meanwhile, the result and accompanying performance will only present questions for Carrick, as United lost their PL opener in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 1973.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Konstantinos Tzolakis (Hull City)