Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images
Michael Carrick will be hopeful of breaking a stumbling block that he is experiencing in the Premier League campaign after Ruben Amorim faced the same issue last season.
The 45-year-old Manchester United manager is facing pressure after the Red Devils have experienced mixed results from their six matches across all competitions.
United have won only one Premier League match in the 2026-27 campaign so far and the Red Devils have lost twice and picked up a draw under Michael Carrick.
The Red Devils thrashed Sabah in their Champions League opener last week, but United suffered a setback to Brighton this week after their Carabao Cup exit.
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Both Michael Carrick and Ruben Amorim could not find a clean sheet for Man Utd in four Premier League matches
Ruben Amorim’s record after four Premier League matches last season is almost identical in many ways to how Manchester United are performing this season. United were on four Premier League points in the 2025-26 campaign after their opening four matches yielded one win, one draw and two defeats.
Amorim’s side even conceded as many times as Michael Carrick’s men (both on seven), but the current Red Devils squad has outscored last season’s side. United have netted seven times under Carrick compared with the four times under Amorim.
However, both Amorim and Carrick saw defensive issues creep in during their respective opening four matches, especially with the lack of clean sheets. The Red Devils did keep a clean sheet in the Champions League this season after United’s thumping 4-0 win over Sabah at Old Trafford.
Man Utd’s opening four Premier League matches under Ruben Amorim in the 2025-26 campaign:
Man Utd vs Arsenal: 0-1 (Old Trafford)
Man Utd vs Fulham: 1-1 (Craven Cottage)
Man Utd vs Burnley: 3-2 (Old Trafford)
Man Utd vs Manchester City: 0-3 (Etihad Stadium)
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Carrick has been struggling for defensive cohesion in the first four Premier League matches, both home and away, and the Red Devils do not have a single clean sheet. The same happened with former United manager Amorim last season and the cycle did not stop until the seventh Premier League match under him.
United finally kept a clean sheet after Amorim’s men were able to beat Sunderland 2-0 in their Premier League clash at Old Trafford last October. Carrick will be wary that the Red Devils cannot afford a repeat of the 2025-26 campaign after already coming under criticism over United’s results this season.
Man United’s first four Premier League fixtures under Michael Carrick in the 2026-27 season:
Man Utd vs Hull City: 0-2 (MKM Stadium)
Man Utd vs Ipswich Town: 5-2 (Old Trafford)
Man Utd vs Everton: 2-2 (Hill Dickinson Stadium)
Man Utd vs Manchester City: 0-1 (Old Trafford)
Carrick still has a chance to break the lack of Premier League clean sheets for United ahead of the extended October international break. However, United face a tough test at the weekend against Fulham and will have to try and keep their first clean sheet of the season at Craven Cottage.