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Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy both scored to give the Tigers a perfect return to the Premier League, scoring in a stunning first half to the delight of the home support at MKM Stadium.

Hull, back in the top-flight for the first time in a decade, clinched all three points for the first time against United in the competition.

Ajayi reacted quickest to turn in their opener from a corner, and Mendy was equally clinical to head in a free-kick before the break, with United unable to find a way back into the match.

Hull gave United an early warning when Lewie Coyle sent a teasing cross to the far post, and Noussair Mazraoui got there just ahead of Oli McBurnie, but at the other end, Bryan Mbeumo then put his laces through a lovely volley, with Konstantinos Tzolakis getting a strong hand behind it.

Ryan Giles's cross caught out United's backline, but Senne Lammens, who had already made a sharp stop to deny McBurnie, was alert to tip it over the bar.

Hull then profited from the resulting corner. Lammens pushed McBurnie's stretching back-post shot against the post off the line, but Ajayi pounced on the loose ball to fire in a 17th-minute opener.

Mbeumo went for the spectacular with an overhead kick that was blocked before Hull caused more issues from set-pieces as Mendy headed in Regan Slater's free-kick after 38 minutes.

Hull continued to keep United at bay after the break, despite Marcus Rashford – playing for the first time since late 2024 – causing plenty of problems with his pace.

But it was the Tigers who still looked a bigger threat, with Mohamed Belloumi bending a shot over the crossbar after cutting inside from the right and Cody Drameh fizzing a low effort just wide.

Mbeumo raced in behind after Cunha had carved open Hull's backline, but he could only fire at Tzolakis, who marked his Hull debut with a clean sheet.

Hull had faced some criticism from pundits in the build-up to the game, with Joe Cole dismissing its survival chances and saying they had “slipped into” the Premier League through the play-offs during a podcast.

But Ajayi says the team is not letting comments like those affect its morale.

"It was amazing, it capped off the great start that we had," the centre-back said.

"I was buzzing to get the goal that got us on our way. I didn't really care if any of us scored; there was no VAR check, so I was buzzing that we got the goal.

"We're not focused on outside noise; we back ourselves to do well, and hopefully we will have a really positive season."

While it did not get any of its second-half shots on target, Hull defended resolutely to ensure its walked away from its first game with a clean sheet.

"We tried something on Friday, a plan there to punish them, how they stand on the wide free-kicks," Hull City head coach Sergej Jakirovic said.

"A big boost for us – [home form] is the key – I have to convince players they are capable of playing at this level.

"We can compete, and this is the key; they showed that."

United boss Michael Carrick insisted one game would not define his first full season in charge of the Red Devils.

"We have a bit to improve on; it was never going to be perfect," he said.

"Going behind makes it more difficult, against a promoted team at home, we can't give them much, and they had opportunities; we're disappointed, but it won't knock us.

"It's for us to improve during the week and keep getting stronger as a group, and we have a lot to learn from it.

"Two goals is frustrating anyway; they decide the game, and there's things to improve on. One game doesn't change the direction of everything. It doesn't change the direction of the football club."