Hull City marked their return to the Premier League after a nine-year absence in the most dramatic way possible, beating Manchester United 2-0 at the MKM Stadium on Saturday and handing Michael Carrick's side a bruising start to the new season.

Semi Ajayi opened the scoring in the 17th minute, converting from close range at a corner, before Nobel Mendy doubled the lead on 38 minutes, heading home a Jaydon Slater free-kick on his own Premier League debut. Both goals came from set pieces, a pattern Carrick singled out afterward. United's clearest chance of the second half fell to Bryan Mbeumo, whose shot was well saved by Hull goalkeeper Konstantinos Tzolakis, and the visitors never seriously threatened an equalizer, according to Sky Sports' match report.

The scoreline carries extra sting for United. It was Hull's first-ever Premier League win over the club, and, per NBC Sports, the Tigers' first league victory against United in 52 years. Marcus Rashford, introduced at halftime, made his first competitive United appearance in 618 days but could not change the course of the game.

Carrick under early pressure

Carrick, whose side arrived at MKM Stadium after a promising preseason, did not hide his frustration afterward.

"We are bitterly disappointed with the result today. But it won't knock us." — Michael Carrick

"Set plays, we've been pretty good at it over a period of time. That decided the game today," Carrick added, before insisting the result would not derail United's broader trajectory: "It is one game. First game of the season. It doesn't change the whole course of direction the team is going in."

Captain Bruno Fernandes was more pointed in his assessment, telling reporters the defeat echoed old habits: "It was the same mistakes we made last season, every away game we give too much of the ball to the opponent."

For Hull, promoted from the Championship over the summer and widely tipped by analysts for an immediate return to the second tier, the win offers early proof they can compete. Ajayi and Mendy's goals gave a sold-out MKM Stadium a result few outside East Yorkshire predicted.

United, who spent heavily in the transfer market over the summer, now face an anxious wait before their next fixture. They host Ipswich Town, another promoted side, at Old Trafford on August 30 in Matchweek 2, with pressure already mounting on Carrick to deliver an immediate response. Hull, meanwhile, look to prove Saturday's shock was no fluke.