Sky Sports pundit Paul Merson has had his say on Manchester United’s latest Premier League match under Michael Carrick against Tottenham at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Manchester United are in red-hot form in the post-Ruben Amorim era after interim head coach Michael Carrick made his sensational return to Old Trafford last month.
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Carrick has overseen three consecutive Premier League wins in his reign so far, including massive results against both Manchester City and Arsenal in January.
Man Utd’s last outing against Fulham at Old Trafford ended in a dramatic 3-2 win, with the Red Devils climbing back into the Premier League top four last Sunday.
The Red Devils’ recent run of form is the complete opposite of 14th-place Tottenham, with Spurs being winless in their last five Premier League matches.
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Michael Carrick walks out ahead of the Premier League match between Manchester United and Fulham at Old Trafford in 2026 in Manchester, England.
Photo by Zohaib Alam – MUFC/Manchester United via Getty Images
Paul Merson singles out Man Utd striker Benjamin Sesko ahead of the Tottenham match at Old Trafford
Speaking in his column for Sportskeeda, Paul Merson said: “This is a massive football match.
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“Michael Carrick has started brilliantly at Manchester United, but we saw the same with Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. Ole at the wheel and all that!
“The only way Carrick can get this job permanently is if he loses four games and then responds by turning that run around. That is how you get measured in big jobs.
“I believe Solskjaer couldn’t do it. If Carrick can do it, then we know he can cope with the pressure at Old Trafford.”
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Michael Carrick immediately pivoted from the Manchester United tactical system that Ruben Amorim deployed during his 14-month managerial reign at Old Trafford.
Benjamin Sesko has been dropped to the bench as a result of Carrick’s tactics, but the striker came on in the second half of Man Utd vs Fulham and scored the winner.
Merson admitted that he is unsure if summer signing Benjamin Sesko will make the Red Devils starting XI against Tottenham on Saturday ahead of Bryan Mbeumo.
“It’s difficult to think who starts for Manchester United in this game,” he continued.
“Do they go with Benjamin Sesko because he scored the late winner against Fulham? I’m not so sure.
“Sometimes, it suits these players to come off the bench rather than start a game.”
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Paul Merson’s feelings on the scoreline outcome for Man Utd and Tottenham’s Premier League clash
Merson has insisted that momentum is clearly on Carrick’s side compared with under-pressure Tottenham head coach Thomas Frank going into Saturday’s clash.
“At the moment, I would say Manchester United are the big favourites to finish in the top five,” he explained.
“That win over Fulham was a huge result. They only play once a week as well, which is a huge advantage compared to Liverpool and Chelsea.”
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Merson continued: “So, I would have to call them favourites even though it’s still very tight.
“Carrick will show Tottenham a lot of respect. I think this is a hard game to call. Spurs are obviously a better team when they have Dominic Solanke in their line-up.
“But I’m going to go for a Manchester United win here.”
Arsenal legend Merson has backed Man Utd to secure a 3-1 Premier League result at Old Trafford against Thomas Frank’s out-of-form Tottenham side at the weekend.
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