Hull vs Man Utd Preview: Team News & Prediction

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Hull City are back in the Premier League, pretty much against all odds, as The Tigers kick off their campaign against the might of Manchester United at the MKM Stadium.

Kick-off date/time: 22 August 2026 at 12:30 pm

How to watch on TV: UK – TNT Sports / USA – USA Network

How to watch online: UK – HBO Max / USA – Universo

Hull preview: Against the odds

Hull City were in a transfer embargo last summer. That prevented the club from making signings for a transfer fee. Despite that, and the appointment of Sergej Jakirovic leaving many of their supporters sceptical, Hull achieved promotion via the play-offs.

Sixth spot in the Championship was confirmed on the final day of the season. They then went on to defeat third place Millwall in the semi-finals before a win against Middlesbrough, rather than Southampton due to Saints’ exclusion as a result of ‘spygate’, with Scotland international Oli McBurnie scoring a second half stoppage-time winner at Wembley Stadium.

Their transfer business has become hectic as the season came into view, with Acun Ilicali suggesting there could be as many as 17 or 18 new signings by the end of the window.

Man Utd preview: The Carrick era continues

In mid-January, after Manchester United had parted ways with Ruben Amorim earlier that month, The Red Devils took the decision to appoint Michael Carrick as interim manager. Carrick led United to third place and a return to the UEFA Champions League, prompting the club to give the former Middlesbrough boss the job on a permanent basis.

Playing every three or four days, which will be the case from mid-September onwards, presents a new challenge for Carrick and for United. However, the start of the season should really see them pick up from where they left off last season; fresh and firing as they try to assert themselves, once again, as one of the dominant forces in English football.

Hull team news: Loads of injuries

Despite the influx of new signings, Hull are still dealing with a plethora of injury issues, including to some of those new additions with Jack Butland, Hidemasa Morita and Oscar Zambrano all unavailable to kick of the campaign.

Jens Hjerto-Dahl, who Hull beat Cardiff City to the signing of, is also a major doubt here, despite playing in the UEFA Europa League for Tromso this season. Joe Gelhardt is also a doubt after re-signing from Leeds United.

Predicted XI (3-4-3): Tzolakis; Herrington, Mendy, Ajayi; Coyle, Slater, Gourna-Douath, Giles; Millar, McBurnie, Belloumi

Unavailable: Butland (Injured), Hughes (Injured), Zambrano (Injured), Gyabi (Injured), Matazo (Injured)

Questionable: Jacob (Injured), Morita (Fitness), Gelhardt (Injured)

Hull's top FPL assets

Regan Slater (£4.5m) – Midfielder

Liam Millar (£5.0m) – Midfielder

Oli McBurnie (£6.5m) – Forward

Gameweek 1 captain pick: Oli McBurnie

Man Utd team news: A few issues

Lisandro Martinez was forced off in the FIFA World Cup final but is fit to start here and is expected to start alongside Harry Maguire at the back for United.

His involvement may well be crucial for this one as fellow centre-back Matthijs de Ligt remains sidelined alongside midfielder Manuel Ugarte. Mason Mount and Benjamin Sesko face late fitness tests, albeit the latter has returned to training.

Predicted XI (4-2-3-1): Lammens; Dalot, Maguire, Martinez, Shaw; Santos, Tielemans; Diallo, Fernandes, Cunha; Mbeumo

Unavailable: De Ligt (Fitness), Ugarte (Injured)

Questionable: Heaton (Injured), Mount (Injured), Sesko (Fitness)

Man Utd's top FPL assets

Senne Lammens (£5.0m) – Goalkeeper

Bruno Fernandes (£12.0m) – Midfielder

Bryan Mbeumo (£8.0m) – Midfielder

Gameweek 1 captain pick: Bruno Fernandes

Hull vs Man Utd prediction

Hull played a fun style of football in the Championship. Only four teams managed to score more than them in the 46-game regular season, with three teams, fairly remarkably, conceding more, too. They did then, again seemingly against the odds and logic, immediately shift their style to a more conservative and effective one in the play-offs, with their three games consisting of a total of just three goals, keeping three successive clean sheets. They will again try and do a similar job in the Premier League and especially on the opening day against United. That may help United, who will fear the newly-promoted bounce getting after their defence. Instead, United will be able to dictate things and, albeit better on the counter-attack under Carrick, should still get themselves an opening day victory without too much fuss.

Hull vs Man Utd tip: Man Utd to win to nil