Popular Manchester United players flop as Hull remind Dream Team bosses to expect the unexpected

THE first rule of Dream Team: expect the unexpected. Managers were reminded of this eternal truth on the opening weekend of the 2026/27 season when Hull stunned Manchester United on Saturday. Not in the script Credit: Reuters Several of Michael Carrick’s troops were among the most popular players in Dream Team for Gameweek 1 as gaffers sought to target what appeared to be a favourable run of fixtures to begin the campaign. Last season, the Tigers finished sixth in the Championship with the fourth-worst defensive record and underlying stats that were less than convincing. Sign up for the Man United newsletter Thank you! Sergej Jakirovic’s side earned promotion through the play-offs, capitalising on the ‘spygate’ side show between Southampton and Middlesbrough. Whereas Man United powered to a third-place finish in the top flight after Carrick displaced Ruben Amorim. In fact, the Red Devils earned more points than both Manchester City and Arsenal throughout the second half of the campaign. Dream Team bosses who stocked up on Old Trafford residents ahead of Gameweek 1 acted logically as the match-up at the MKM Stadium was a stark mismatch on paper. But football isn’t played on paper. Ajayi gave the Hull the lead Credit: SHUTTERSTOCK Buoyed by a partisan crowd, Hull roared out of the blocks and caught the visitors cold in the first half. Most read in Football Defenders Semi Ajayi (£1.5m) and Nobel Mendy (£2m) scored from set-piece situations to give the hosts a 2-0 lead within 40 minutes, which they protected for nearly an hour to earn three points. Bryan Mbeumo (£4.5m) and company registered 21 shots but only one of Konstantinos Tzolakis’s (£2m) five saves was more difficult that regulation and nobody could deny that Hull were deserved winners on the day. Bruno Fernandes (£7m) is the third-most popular player in the game but the 40.7% of gaffers who forked out a huge wedge of their initial budget to back the Portuguese playmaker were rewarded with just four points. Mbeumo, the fifth-most selected player overall, returned the same. As did Harry Maguire (£3.5m), the third-most popular defender. In fact, no United player mustered more than four points. Maguire currently appears in 16.9% of teams Credit: EPA In contrast, Ajayi and Mendy combined for 28 points (14 each) while Tzolakis banked 12 points, making him the top-performing goalkeeper at this early stage. Fernandes and company will get another crack at the whip in Gameweek 2 when they will face another newly-promoted team in the form of Ipswich. Dream Team bosses will still be hopeful of substantial returns from Old Trafford but the Tractor Boys will fancy their chances of an upset after their win against Sunderland. Gaffers should always be wary of overreacting to one game but if the popular Man United assets fail to deliver next weekend then many will seek replacements. How to claim £30 in football free bets Midnite offer Download the Midnite app or create an account online HERE* Register using the code: BETGET30 Deposit a minimum of £10 Place a £10 sportsbook bet at minimum odds of 1/1 Free Bets will be credited upon settlement of your qualifying bet Comment now