Michael Carrick is only one match into his interim Manchester United head coach role, but the Red Devils legend could leave Old Trafford with the perfect present for fans.
The 44-year-old ex-Middlesbrough head coach has already batted away his critics with a statement-of-intent performance in his first match in charge at the club.
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Jayce Fitzgerald walking out for Manchester United.
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Michael Carrick could not hold back his excitement — not surprising at all — after Manchester United’s breathtaking display against Manchester City at Old Trafford.
United ran through Pep Guardiola’s men like a red-hot knife touching butter, with Red Devils supporters at Old Trafford and around the world left in complete awe.
Manchester City’s 2-0 defeat to Man Utd in the final Manchester derby of the 2025-26 season was already one key marker that Carrick put down so early into his reign.
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Michael Carrick celebrates with Matheus Cunha during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Manchester City at Old Trafford in 2026 in Manchester, England.
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Ben Foster’s top-four Man Utd prediction shows the importance of Michael Carrick’s reign at Old Trafford
Michael Carrick already had his back against the wall after returning to Old Trafford, with Manchester United facing Manchester City ahead of their clash with Arsenal.
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It is an incredibly difficult start to any interim head coach role in England, not to mention for one who is at the biggest club in the Premier League and in the world.
However, Carrick not only had the last laugh over City manager Pep Guardiola, but he also kept the Red Devils’ Premier League top-four hopes alive and well.
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Man Utd are fifth in the Premier League table with only 16 matches remaining in the 2025-26 season, but the Red Devils are only one point outside of the top four now.
Speaking on his podcast, Ben Foster believes that his former United teammate could sneak the Red Devils back into the Champions League for the 2026-27 campaign.
“Oh, honestly, it’s just complete recency bias, but Man United, if they’re going to play with this intensity for the remaining, what is it, 17, 16 games of the season,” he said on the Fozcast show.
“And they’ve got no Europe, have they? Exactly. They’ve got no FA Cup, no League Cup, no European [matches]. They’ve got a week to win. It’s literally Saturday [matches].
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Ben Foster is right about the importance of Man Utd vs Liverpool for Michael Carrick in the 2025-26 season
Liverpool’s Premier League title defence has fallen flat and the fourth-place Reds are only one point clear of United after their 1-1 draw against Burnley last weekend.
The Reds have struggled to build any momentum and United already defeated Liverpool in a sensational 2-1 Premier League win at Anfield earlier this season.
Arne Slot’s men still have to visit Old Trafford and the stage could be all set for a huge make-or-break moment for Carrick in May in the Premier League.
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Patrick Dorgu celebrates with his teammates during the Premier League match between Manchester United and Newcastle United.
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When asked about Man Utd and Liverpool challenging for the fourth-place slot, Foster added: “They are unbeaten in 12, but if you listen to the way Liverpool fans are talking about their performances, not only the results, but the performances, the minute they’re really down on it.
“Yeah, that would be good. That would be a perfect time. Yeah, they did, yeah.
“That would be a real good fixture, that will, to be fair, because the way Man Utd played, that intensity and how sort of down Liverpool feel, you watch the game against Burnley and Liverpool absolutely battered them, to be fair, they could have scored three.”
Foster is right about the prospect of Man Utd vs Liverpool at Old Trafford on 2nd May, which could become a pivotal moment in the race for the top four.
Not only could Carrick sign off his reign with a moment that could see Liverpool miss out on Champions League football, but United finishing ahead of the Reds would be the ultimate parting present to supporters.
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