Carrick's United face worst start in Premier League history

At Old Trafford, the echo of a lone whistle cuts through a sea of restless fans as Michael Carrick watches his Red Devils limp into the Premier League campaign. United have already matched their poorest start in history, with just five points after three matches.

Pre‑season promises turn to early Premier League woes

Carrick took charge after Rúben Amorim’s dismissal, a desperate move by United’s hierarchy. In the four‑match pre‑season, the side beat Atlético de Madrid once, drew with Paris Saint‑Germain and Leeds United, then fell 2‑4 to AC Milan – a game that even featured Amorim on the bench. Despite that, United stayed unbeaten against the Premier League’s Big Six. The squad was assembled to be competitive in the 2026‑2027 UEFA Champions League, raising expectations for Carrick's tenure.

The league opened with a defeat away at newly promoted Hull City. Hull City, one of the newly promoted sides, proved a tough opponent. Back at Old Trafford, United recovered with a 5‑2 victory over Ipswich Town, their sole win so far. A third fixture against Everton saw Benjamin Sesko strike, only for Ainsley Maitland‑Niles to equalise, leaving the match level at 2‑2.

Mid‑week, United surged to a 4‑0 triumph over Sabah in the UEFA Champions League, but the following weekend they lost the Manchester Derby to Manchester City, a game marred by a contentious Erling Haaland goal and a red card for Phil Foden. A shock Carabao Cup exit followed, with Brighton overturning United 3‑2, and a 1‑1 draw with Fulham saw Matheus Cunha avert further embarrassment.

League standing and the road ahead

United sit twelfth in the Premier League table with five points, four behind Leeds United and only two above the relegation zone. They sit four points behind the European places and two points clear of the drop. Their next league test arrives on 10 October against bottom‑placed Tottenham Hotspur, a match that could add three points. A Champions League clash with Atlético de Madrid follows mid‑week, and a subsequent league encounter with Leeds United looms as a potential six‑pointer.

Carrick now faces the same pressure that fell on Erik ten Hag in his final season, needing to reverse the trend quickly. Ten Hag’s final season ended with a similar decline, a fate Carrick hopes to avoid. The Red Devils must tighten up defensively and find consistency if they are to avoid repeating history.

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