Photo by Michael Regan - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Photo by Michael Regan - UEFA/UEFA via Getty Images
Manchester United have endured a tough start to the season and Michael Carrick cannot afford for it to get any worse.
After four matches played in the 2025/26 Premier League season, Manchester United sit 13th in the table with just four points on the board.
Next up is a trip to face strugglers Fulham, who are yet to pick up their first win of the season. Michael Carrick is facing pressure to turn things around, but so is his opponent on the touchline, Alvaro Arbeloa.
Sunday 20th September Premier League
With an international break on the horizon, Carrick really needs a positive result and performance to ease the spotlight over the next few weeks.
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Michael Carrick is at risk of starting worse than Ruben Amorim
This is Carrick’s first full season in charge as Manchester United manager, and so far it has not gone to plan. Last season, he was able to pick up more points than any other side during his interim spell.
If United fail to beat Fulham on Sunday afternoon, Carrick’s side will have officially made a worse start to the season than Amorim in 2025/26.
Last season, Amorim led United to two victories in the first five league matches, earning seven points from those games.
If Carrick loses or draws to Fulham, United will be worse off than where they were this time last season, and that will drum up some unwanted questions about his time in the hot seat.
Man United were flawless in October after poor start
If Carrick is to take any positives from last season, though, it’s that United started poorly but grew into the season and performed very well in October.
Last season under Amorim, this is how the October results panned out:
2-0 win vs Sunderland
2-1 win vs Liverpool
4-2 win vs Brighton
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It was the first time Amorim won back-to-back matches in charge of United, and finally his side found a bit of form.
Carrick will hope for a similar outcome as we approach October.