The first Saturday of the 2026/27 Premier League season featured two promoted sides getting their campaigns off to a dream start.

In the early kick-off, Hull City stunned Manchester United 2-0 on their return to the top flight after a nine-year absence, before Ipswich Town saw off Sunderland 2-1 thanks to a 90th-minute winner from former Black Cat Jack Clarke.

It is the second successive season that two promoted teams have won their opening matches. Last year, those two teams, Leeds United and Sunderland, both stayed up.

At MKM Stadium, Hull secured their first top-flight win over Man Utd courtesy of first-half goals from Semi Ajayi and club-record signing Nobel Mendy.

“Before we all went to bed last night, we couldn’t have dreamt of it any better,” Hull captain Lewie Coyle told TNT Sports after his side beat Man Utd in the league for the first time since 1974, when both clubs were in the old Second Division.

“To win 2-0 at home against Manchester United will be a shock to a lot of people. But this team has got something special in terms of character and resilience.”

Ajayi hammered home the 17th-minute opener after Man Utd goalkeeper Senne Lammens hid tipped on to the post a shot from Oli McBurnie, who ran away celebrating thinking he had scored himself.

“I’m not going to lie, I thought he had scored as well!” admitted Ajayi.

Mendy then doubled Hull’s lead with a debut goal seven minutes before the break as he headed in Regan Slater’s pinpoint free-kick.

The Senegalese defender was one of three summer recruits in Hull’s XI, but eight of their starting line-up played for them in the Championship last season.

“I’m very proud,” said Tigers boss Sergej Jakirovic, who is the first Bosnian manager to win a Premier League game. “Everything was very, very good and it is a big boost for us.

“For players who we wanted [to sign], maybe this will make their decision easier to come here.”

For Carrick and Man Utd, it was a disappointing start to the season after ending 2025/26 on a high with a third-place finish.

Even second-half substitute Marcus Rashford’s first Premier League appearance for the Red Devils since December 2024 could not prevent a fourth opening-weekend defeat in seven seasons, and their first in the league to a promoted team in Matchweek 1.

“We have a bit to improve on,” Carrick told TNT Sports. “We’re disappointed but it won’t knock us. One game doesn’t change the direction of everything.”

At Portman Road, Ipswich’s summer signings Julio Enciso and Emersonn combined for the latter to open the scoring in Gary O’Neil’s first competitive match in charge of the Tractor Boys.

Another South American, Nilson Angulo, equalised for Sunderland, becoming the first player to score his side’s first goal of a Premier League season with a direct free-kick since Marcos Alonso for Chelsea in 2021/22.

But Ipswich snatched their first Matchweek 1 top-flight victory since 1993/94 when substitute Clarke scored against his former club in the 90th minute to secure a memorable win.

After matching their best-ever Premier League finish last season, Brentford began their 2026/27 campaign in style with a resounding 3-0 victory over Tottenham Hotspur.

The Bees’ club-record signing midfielder Mamadou Sangare made an instant impact on his debut, teeing up Keane Lewis-Potter to open the scoring in the 12th minute.

Vitaly Janelt then doubled Brentford’s lead before half-time, with Michael Kayode adding a third after the interval.

The only blemish of the night for Keith Andrews’ side was Igor Thiago’s missed penalty, which denied the Bees the chance to finish the day top of the table on goal difference ahead of Arsenal.

The result was a major disappointment for Spurs, who began the campaign with renewed optimism after their revival under Roberto de Zerbi at the end of last season.

Archie Gray became the youngest player to captain the club in a competitive match, breaking Steve Perryman’s record of 20 years and 260 days, while Sandro Tonali, Andy Robertson, Marcos Senesi and Jan Paul van Hecke all made their debuts.

However, De Zerbi was without several key players through injury and is still looking to strengthen his squad before the transfer window closes, with media reports linking the club with a double move for Manchester City forwards Savinho and Omar Marmoush.

Leeds claimed their second successive opening-match win as Anton Stach’s 88th-minute free-kick claimed a 1-0 victory at Nottingham Forest.

It was the German midfielder’s fifth goal from outside the area since the start of last season, more than any other player, while only Liverpool’s Dominik Szoboszlai has matched his four direct free-kick goals.

Forest have won only one of their last 12 Premier League home matches, a worrying trend new boss Oliver Glasner must try to reverse.

At Hill Dickinson Stadium, UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham witnessed his team Everton win their opening Premier League game for the first time in five years with a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace.

Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Thierno Barry scored either side of half-time for the Toffees’ first victory in eight top-flight matches, with 19-year-old midfielder Harrison Armstrong impressing.

It was, however, a bad start for new Palace manager Pierre Sage, who also saw defender Chadi Riad carried off on a stretcher in tears with what appeared to be a serious knee injury.

“Chadi has battled with injuries throughout his career here and my prayers go out to him,” said his team-mate Chris Richards. “We will rally around him. This season is for Chadi.” (Premierleague.com)

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