Opening-day struggles for United, Tottenham

AP:

It took just one round of the Premier League season to puncture the pre-season optimism surrounding Manchester United and Tottenham.

Yesterday, England’s top division began with United, the 20-time champions, suffering an embarrassing 2-0 defeat to promoted Hull despite having a new permanent manager and a revamped midfield.

It ended with Tottenham, one of Europe’s biggest spenders this summer with US$300 million and counting invested in new signings, being outclassed 3-0 by Brentford.

In between, Everton claimed a win in front of Britain’s newly installed prime minister and fellow promoted club Ipswich secured a victory.

Man United stumble at Hull

Hull made a dream return to the top flight after a nine-year absence, but much of the post-match discussion centred on United’s shortcomings.

First-half goals from Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy from set pieces condemned United to a disappointing defeat against a team that earned promotion through the Championship playoffs and is widely expected to be among the relegation candidates.

“It was never going to be perfect,” said Michael Carrick, who was rewarded for leading United to a third-place finish last season and a return to the Champions League with a permanent contract during the summer.

Carrick was also handed a new central-midfield partnership in Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos, while Brighton’s Carlos Baleba could be next to arrive. Marcus Rashford, meanwhile, returned from a loan spell at Barcelona and came on as a half-time substitute against Hull.

They struggled to make an impact in a lacklustre display that suggested United, who last won the Premier League title in 2013 under Alex Ferguson, still have a long way to go before recapturing their former heights and appear unlikely title contenders on this early evidence.

“One game doesn’t change the direction of everything,” Carrick said. “It doesn’t change the direction of the football club.”

Tonali and Tottenham outplayed by slick Brentford

Only Chelsea have spent more on new players than Tottenham this summer, but it did not show at Brentford’s Gtech Community Stadium.

Italy midfielder Sandro Tonali, who joined for a club-record US$133 million from Newcastle, was among the new signings in a Spurs team that was thoroughly outplayed by a settled Brentford side.

The hosts were two goals ahead by the 33rd minute thanks to close-range finishes from Keane Lewis-Potter and Vitaly Janelt.

Michael Kayode slid in to add a third just after the break, and Igor Thiago, Brentford’s leading scorer last season, missed the chance to make the scoreline even more emphatic when he struck the post with a penalty.

British PM sees Everton win

Everton had a famous supporter in the stands as they recorded a 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace.

Andy Burnham attended his first Everton match since becoming Britain’s prime minister last month and watched Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall and Thierno Barry score for the hosts.

Everton manager David Moyes said he spoke with Burnham, a season ticket-holder at the club, by phone after the match.

Ismaila Sarr, who has been linked with a move away from Palace, was not included in the matchday squad for Pierre Sage’s first game in charge, though the manager said the Senegal forward’s absence was because of injury.

Palace also lost Morocco defender Chadi Riad to what appeared to be a serious knee injury, forcing him to be carried off on a stretcher during the second half.

Another victory for a promoted club

Ipswich became the second promoted team to win in the opening round of matches, with Jack Clarke scoring in the 90th minute to seal a 2-1 victory over his former club Sunderland.

Leeds also left it late, with Anton Stach’s 88th-minute free kick earning a 1-0 win over Nottingham Forest.

Arsenal have already won

Arsenal began their title defence by beating second-tier champions Coventry 3-0 on Friday.

Today, Manchester City, who were beaten 3-0 by Arsenal in the Community Shield last weekend, will look to bounce back against Bournemouth, while Liverpool travel to Newcastle.