Alan Shearer has issued a stark warning to Manchester United after their 2-0 defeat to newly-promoted Hull City on the opening day of the Premier League season. The former Newcastle United striker said the side were 'dreadful' across the pitch and 'offered nothing upfront'.
Set-piece goals decide opener
Michael Carrick's side went into the match as favourites, but first-half goals from Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy, both from set-pieces, gave the Tigers all three points on their return to the top flight. United are expected to challenge for Champions League places again this season after investing in the squad over the summer.
Speaking on Match of the Day, Shearer said: "Man United were dreadful in all positions I thought, particularly upfront, they offered nothing. At times I struggled to work out what they were trying to do."
Fitness concerns raised
Shearer voiced concerns about the players' fitness levels following the match at the MKM Stadium. "[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," he said.
"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. 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."
Pundits in agreement
talkSPORT host and former Premier League striker Tony Cascarino agreed, saying on talkSPORT: "I was amazed how many Manchester United players didn't look fit. Some of them obviously didn't go to the World Cup. So, I don't know what sort of summers they had but Luke Shaw and Harry Maguire weren't there, Youri Tielemans came out of the World Cup quite early, and Cunha came out quite early."
"There's a number of players. Bryan Mbeumo didn't go to the World Cup either. I mean, the two midfield boys, Tielemans and Andrey Santos, were really off the pace."
