Man United, Tottenham Drop Premier League Openers 2-0 and 3-0

Q: How did newly promoted Hull City use training ground secrets to secure their first league victory over Manchester United since 1974?

Hull City beat Manchester United by targeting a specific weakness in United’s set-piece defending that manager Sergej Jakirović said was identified in pre-match analysis and rehearsed in training the day before the game. Jakirović said Hull “tried something on Friday” to punish “how they’re standing especially on a wide free kick,” adding that the details were a “secret.” In practice, Hull used Regan Slater’s deliveries to exploit United’s marking and positioning. The opener came from an inswinging corner that was flicked on and eventually turned in by Semi Ajayi. The second came from a wide free kick sent to the back post for Nobel Mendy to head home. Hull’s staff had studied United three times, including one live viewing, and believed United were vulnerable to blocks, aerial pressure and back-post movement on dead balls. Jakirović indicated the plan was built around creating those small disruptions in United’s defensive shape rather than open-play domination. That preparation proved decisive. Hull, newly promoted and widely tipped to struggle, scored both goals before halftime from routines worked on at the training ground and secured their first league win over United since 1974.

3 articles · Updated · The Associated Press · Aug 22

Hull beat Manchester United 2-0 and Brentford routed Tottenham 3-0, quickly puncturing preseason optimism around two of the league’s biggest clubs.
Set-piece goals from Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy exposed United at promoted Hull, where Michael Carrick’s new-look midfield and returning Marcus Rashford failed to lift a flat display.
Brentford had Tottenham 2-0 down by the 33rd minute through Keane Lewis-Potter and Vitaly Janelt, then added a third via Michael Kayode despite Spurs’ roughly $300 million summer spending spree.
Elsewhere, Everton opened with a 2-0 win over Crystal Palace, Ipswich beat Sunderland 2-1 with a 90th-minute goal, and Leeds edged Nottingham Forest 1-0.
Arsenal had already started its title defense with a 3-0 win over Coventry, while Manchester City visits Bournemouth and Liverpool travels to Newcastle on Sunday.