Manchester United's new season schedule has a dream start! Carrick demands a title challenge, with fans hoping for 25 points from the first ten rounds.

The Premier League revealed the 2026/27 fixture list on Friday, offering Manchester United a favorable opening schedule. Their first two games in August are against newly promoted Hull City and Ipswich Town. The opening match sees United travel to Hull, who secured promotion through the playoffs—their first season-opening away game in ten years. For the second fixture against Ipswich, the club's former manager Kieran McKenna (a former United assistant) has resigned due to family matters, and the leading candidate to replace him is another United legend, Ole Gunnar Solskjær.

According to odds in England, Hull City and Ipswich Town are the two biggest favorites for relegation next season, making United's early schedule as favorable as possible. Carrick's side can use these two relatively straightforward matches to continue building chemistry and find form, preparing for the tougher games in September. In particular, mid-September sees United host local rivals Manchester City at home.

In Premier League history, United have only twice started a season with back-to-back matches against promoted sides. In 2001, they beat Fulham 3-2 in the opener, with Ruud van Nistelrooy scoring twice on his home debut and Louis Saha also netting a brace for Fulham, who took the lead twice before being signed by Sir Alex Ferguson later. In the second round, United traveled to Blackburn; David Beckham scored an own goal, and United fell behind again, but eventually Beckham's free kick secured a comeback victory.

In 2009, United narrowly beat Birmingham City at home in the first match, with Wayne Rooney scoring the winner via a header and a tap-in. In the second round, United lost 0-1 away to Burnley, with current head coach Carrick captaining the side but missing a penalty.

For Asian United fans, the good news is that the away match against Hull City is scheduled for Saturday at 12:30 PM local time, allowing viewers in the Far East to watch in prime evening hours without staying up late. This is also the second match of the new Premier League season, following only Arsenal's home game against Coventry.

A United fan named Neil declared: "I expect United to get 25 points from their first ten games next season. European competitions will add more pressure, so they need strong summer signings." Another fan commented: "Sadly, 30 points from the first ten rounds is absolutely impossible. If they reach around 24 points, we'll be quite satisfied by the one-third mark of the season. If it drops below 20, then there's serious cause for reflection."

Not just the start, but United's run-in at the end of the season also looks manageable. After the March international break next year, the Red Devils will face only one team that finished in the top 10 last season.

It's worth noting that Manchester United are undertaking a complete renovation of the Old Trafford pitch, including adjusting the underlying soil and modifying the slope behind the goal lines to better protect players from sliding into the advertising boards when charging out of play. This is the first full relaying of the pitch in 14 years, since the 2012/13 season.

According to reports, Carrick, now officially appointed as Manchester United's permanent head coach, has set clear objectives: he demands significant progress next season, narrowing the gap with Manchester City and Arsenal. The club not only aims to return to the Champions League but, if all goes well, hopes to compete for titles. Carrick has been given a two-year contract with a clear mission: to bring the Premier League trophy back to Old Trafford before the club's 150th anniversary in 2028.

The Premier League schedule is set, with matches kicking off on August 22. The Champions League will start in the second week of September, with the group stage draw taking place on Thursday, August 27. The first round of Champions League group matches will be held from September 8 to 10; that week, United will first travel to Everton, then host Manchester City, making it a challenging period.