Shaw promises United will be “up there”

Luke Shaw has backed Manchester United to mount a strong Premier League campaign despite the club’s season beginning with a damaging 2-0 defeat at promoted Hull City.

United endured a miserable opening match at MKM Stadium, with first-half goals from Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy giving Hull a historic victory. The result ended Hull’s 10-match winless league run against Manchester United and made United the first promoted-side victim in their opening Premier League fixture.

The defeat also marked United’s fourth matchday-one loss in the last seven Premier League seasons. However, Shaw remains convinced that the team can challenge at the top after a strong finish to the previous campaign had raised expectations around Old Trafford.

“We have the exact same feeling, even now after the game. It will be a very good season for us, I'm sure of it. We'll be up there,” Shaw said.

“Of course, this is a little blip. It's obviously not nice to happen at the start of the season when our expectations are high and we should be starting the season strong, showing everyone that we're here this season,” he added. “But one game won't define us. We'll regroup, we'll go again and, like I said, I promise it'll be a good season for us.”

Carrick rejects criticism of United’s intensity

Both of Hull’s goals came from set pieces, the first time United had conceded twice from such situations in the opening 45 minutes of a Premier League game since facing Aston Villa in December 2023.

Michael Carrick dismissed the suggestion that a lack of passion or intensity had led to the defeat, arguing that the decisive moments came from defensive lapses at set plays rather than a lack of commitment.

“Oh come on, that's ridiculous,” Carrick told Viaplay. “Just because you get beaten doesn't mean you don't care about it.”

“Their two goals came from set-plays. Other than that, we had opportunities. I don't think it was passion or anything to do with that. I just think it was those moments that made a difference in the game.”

Manchester United will have an immediate opportunity to respond when they host another promoted team, Ipswich Town, on Sunday.