Even the most biased Liverpool fan would admit Man United are in a better place under Michael Carrick, but do their supporters want him to get the job permanently?
The Reds head to Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon, with taking them above their rivals on goal difference and into third place in the Premier League.
It has been an up-and-down season for United, with Carrick’s side impressing after the miserable reign of Ruben Amorim, but they remain flawed.
With the next chapter in a great rivalry looming, we spoke to United fan Kadeem Simmonds (@KadeemSimmonds) to discuss both sides, Carrick and Slot’s futures and more.
How would you rate Man United’s season out of 10?
BOURNEMOUTH, ENGLAND - Friday, March 20, 2026: Manchester United's Matheus Cunha during the FA Premier League match between AFC Bournemouth and Manchester United FC at Dean Court. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
A difficult question off the bat. Even under Ruben Amorim, it wasn’t ‘that’ bad.
It could have been better – some of the results were frustrating, such as the 1-0 defeat to Everton and the draw against Wolves, not to mention the defeat to Grimsby in the Carabao Cup.
After he departed and Carrick took over, things improved tenfold, but there were still some annoying results.
The defeat to Newcastle and performance against Leeds are low points, but overall, with Champions League qualification all but confirmed, it is an eight-out-of-10.
I’m not one to say ‘if we picked up points here and there we would be challenging for the title’, but we could at least be secure in third.
Which three players have impressed most and has anyone struggled?
It is easier to say who has struggled.
Manuel Ugarte never got going under Erik ten Hag and has only got worse. He is a player who should be sold in the summer because his tenure at United isn’t going to improve.
Leny Yoro, while still young, hasn’t kicked on, and while his performances haven’t been bad, they haven’t been good.
Since January, both Bryan Mbuemo and Amad Diallo have been very poor. Amad hasn’t contributed a goal under Carrick and looks like a player who needs a rest.
In terms of who has impressed, there are genuinely six or more players who could be mentioned, and it is harsh to limit it to three.
Senne Lammens has to be applauded for the way he has settled in and he has made some very impressive saves, most recently in the 2-1 win over Bournemouth.
Ayden Heaven, while not playing week in week out, looks like a player who has a very bright future at the club and has fans very excited for what he could achieve in a red shirt.
Because this will be the last time he is mentioned in a preview, Casemiro has been so impressive.
For a player who looked like he was going to end his time at United looking like a shell of the player he was, he is rightfully being asked to stay for another year.
The goals, the defensive contributions, his leadership – everything has been phenomenal.
Do you want Michael Carrick to get the job this summer and who else do you like?
MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - Monday, April 27, 2026: Manchester United's head coach Michael Carrick applauds the supporters after the FA Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Brentford FC at Old Trafford. Man Utd won 2-1. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
He deserves the job. Do I want him to get the job? I honestly don’t know.
He has done the bare minimum as Man United manager, which sounds harsh, but Jason Wilcox said this team should be qualifying for the Champions League, and that is what they are doing.
One game a week, playing the same team on a consistent basis – bigger tests are to come should he get the job, and I do think he will pass them, but there is something missing.
He needs a bit more bite in his press conferences; at the moment he is very calm and is avoiding mind games, which you don’t expect from a United boss.
Who else is there to replace him?
Julian Nagelsmann and Thomas Tuchel have World Cup commitments and I don’t want them to come in once pre-season is underway.
Andoni Iriola is doing good things at Bournemouth, but like Graham Potter found when he left Brighton for Chelsea, you are expected to win every week.
Eleven games without a win at Bournemouth can be largely ignored. Get to three games without a win at United and the knives come out.
I’m not sure he can make that step up, and the Thomas Frank debacle at Spurs may have ruined things for managers looking to make the jump from mid-table club to Champions League giant.
Who are your three dream summer signings?
LONDON, ENGLAND - Tuesday, January 7, 2025: Newcastle United's Sandro Tonali during the Football League Cup Semi-Final 1st Leg match between Arsenal FC and Newcastle United FC at the Emirates Stadium. Newcastle won 2-0. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
Again, it is unfair to limit me to three because United honestly need seven plus players to have a squad capable of being competitive in over two competitions next season.
We need depth at goalkeeper, right-back, left-back, centre-back (injuries), midfielders to replace Casemiro and Ugarte, and then one more because you need four central midfielders.
Then they need an actual left winger and a backup striker.
But, if I am limited to three, Eduardo Camavinga, Alex Scott and a left winger. Not Rafael Leao, and I’ve not seen enough of Mika Gotds to say confidently whether I would sign him.
It is going to be a very expensive position to fill.
NEWCASTLE-UPON-TYNE, ENGLAND - Monday, August 25, 2025: Newcastle United's captain Bruno Guimarães celebrates after scoring his team's first goal to make the score 1-2 during the FA Premier League match between Newcastle United FC and Liverpool FC at St James' Park. Liverpool won 3-2. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
There are four players I would take from Newcastle – Lewis Hall, Tino Livramento, Sandro Tonali and Bruno Guimaraes, but it isn’t realistic.
Elliot Anderson is joining Man City, Adam Wharton is probably going to stay at Palace.
Kees Smit is interesting, as is Angelo Stiller, and I would love for United to activate Stiller’s release clause the moment Champions League football is secured and get started on incomings early.
Special shout-out to Hayden Hackney. United should have signed him last summer, should sign him this summer and I will keep banging the drum for him to make the step up.
Honourable mention to Spurs duo Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray. And Mateus Fernandes and Joao Gomes.
See, sticking to three dream signings is impossible!
How do you rate Liverpool’s season? Would you keep Arne Slot?
It’s been poor, no one will deny that. The summer recruitment was confusing and I still don’t understand why the club needed Hugo Ekitke AND Alexander Isak.
But next season, they should be fine – or once the former recovers from his injury.
It looks like a club that needed time off and never got it because football doesn’t allow for an extended period to grieve.
And with a World Cup, some players won’t get that.
I would keep Arne Slot, he deserves time to fix it, but I know so many Liverpool fans who want him gone.
And if I’m honest, I want him to stay just to see how bad it can get – the same thing rival fans said about Amorim.
Where do you think both sides will finish this season?
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - Saturday, April 25, 2026: Liverpool's Mohamed Salah speaks with team-mate Dominik Szoboszlai sustaining an injury during the FA Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
United will scrape third because Liverpool and Aston Villa are too hit-and-miss. And for Villa, they have a European semi-final to try and win.
Liverpool will finish fifth, secure Champions League and then improve next season.
Where will the key battles take place at Old Trafford?
LONDON, ENGLAND - Saturday, August 10, 2024: Manchester United's captain Bruno Fernandes during the FA Community Shield match between Manchester City FC and Manchester United FC at Wembley Stadium. (Photo by David Rawcliffe/Propaganda)
The key battle will be who is tasked with stopping Bruno Fernandes from getting to 20 assists. This is a player who is refusing to shoot just to break this record.
Liverpool should let him run through on goal because he is looking to pass the ball at every opportunity.
He is unstoppable at the moment, and that is where the game will be won and lost for either team.
Finally, what’s your prediction?
United 3-1 Liverpool.
Bruno to get two assists, one to Casemiro and one to Harry Maguire.
United can’t keep a clean sheet, so I expect to concede at least one, but the team has found the back of the net 22 games in a row.
Watch this game finish 0-0 now!