Shearer brands Manchester United 'dreadful' after shock opening-day loss to Hull

Manchester United began their Premier League campaign with a chastening 2-0 defeat to newly-promoted Hull City at the MKM Stadium, prompting former England striker Alan Shearer to declare the side ‘dreadful in all positions’ on Match of the Day.

Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy both scored from set-pieces in the first half to hand Hull all three points on their return to the top flight, leaving manager Michael Carrick’s side with serious questions to answer after being widely expected to challenge for Champions League places this season.

Shearer was unsparing in his assessment. “Man United were dreadful in all positions I thought, particularly upfront — they offered nothing,” he said. “At times I struggled to work out what they were trying to do. There was without a doubt a lack of energy; they just didn’t look fit.”

The former Newcastle striker also highlighted the gulf in intensity between the two sides. “You know that as a team going away from home to a newly promoted team, you know what you’re going to get and you have to match them as a minimum — and Man United didn’t today. They couldn’t live with them.”

That verdict was echoed by former Premier League striker Tony Cascarino, who expressed surprise at the physical condition of several United players despite a full pre-season behind them.

“I was amazed how many Manchester United players didn’t look fit,” Cascarino said. “Some of them obviously didn’t go to the World Cup, so I don’t know what sort of summers they had. Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire weren’t there, Youri Tielemans came out of the World Cup quite early, and Cunha came out quite early. The two midfield boys, Tielemans and Andrey Santos, were really off the pace.”

United had invested in their squad over the summer with Champions League ambitions, making the manner of the defeat — against a side playing their first top-flight fixture in years — all the more alarming for Carrick and his coaching staff. Hull’s victory, built on set-piece efficiency and relentless pressing, underlined exactly the kind of organised resistance promoted sides can offer on the opening day.