Pre-season hope can prove perilous, as Manchester United supporters discovered the hard way on Saturday.
Saturday’s 2-0 loss to newly promoted Hull City marked a disappointing start for Michael Carrick’s side, who were outclassed by the Tigers.
Hull’s return to the Premier League after a nine-year absence came with a historic milestone: their first-ever top-flight victory over Manchester United.
The defeat marked the first time United had fallen to a newly promoted opponent on opening day.
While disheartening, the result is far from isolated, joining a long list of opening-day shocks across the league.