Alan Shearer has delivered a critical take on Manchester United after their poor start to the Premier League season at Hull City.
Michael Carrick’s side were beaten 2-0 away from home on Saturday, with Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy scoring in the first half. United never really looked capable of turning the game around, and Shearer believes the performance raised serious questions about the team’s energy levels.
Speaking on Match of the Day, the former England striker didn’t hold back.
“Man United were dreadful in all positions I thought, particularly upfront, they offered nothing,” Shearer said. “At times I struggled to work out what they were trying to do.”
It was a particularly poor showing from a Manchester United side that had been expected to start the campaign with three points against one of the newly promoted teams.
Alan Shearer questions United’s fitness
The biggest concern for Shearer wasn’t just United’s lack of attacking threat. He felt Carrick’s players looked short of energy from the opening stages.
“There is so much to work on, so much to improve, I know it was the first game of the season but there was without a doubt a lack of energy, they just didn’t look fit, Manchester United.”
Hull appeared far more aggressive and sharper throughout the match. The hosts pressed United, won second balls and made the most of their opportunities, while the visitors struggled to match their intensity.
“There was only one team who were going to win that today from the very first minute, you saw the energy, you saw the intensity.”
For Shearer, that gap in effort levels shouldn’t have been there.
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Manchester United failed to match Hull’s intensity
United knew exactly what they were likely to face. Hull were playing their first Premier League home game after promotion and had the crowd behind them.
Alan Shearer believes that should have been enough warning for Carrick’s players.
“That would be the worrying thing – you know that as a team going away from home to a newly promoted team, you know what you’re going to get and you have to match them as a minimum and Man Utd didn’t today. They couldn’t live with them.”
The result was also historic for Hull, who secured their first Premier League win over United.
For Carrick, the challenge now is obvious. The opening defeat doesn’t decide United’s season, but the manner of it cannot simply be ignored either.
United were second best in almost every area, and Shearer’s highlights how much work remains if Carrick’s side are going to improve on last season’s third-place finish.
