Photo by Tiego Grenho/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Photo by Tiego Grenho/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images
Assessing Manchester United’s first five Premier League matches in 2025/26 vs 2026/27.
There was reason for Manchester United fans to be optimistic ahead of the season. Michael Carrick’s run as interim coach surpassed expectations, and he’d got the team back into the habit of winning football matches.
Football can be cruel, as things change quickly. United now look like a completely different team, crashing out of the Carabao Cup in the third round and proving incapable of grinding out results in the Premier League.
An extended international break means United have to wait three weeks to take on Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford. It’s far from ideal after dropping more points on Sunday.
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Comparing Man Utd’s first five Premier League matches: 2025/26 vs 2026/27
Ruben Amorim faced plenty of criticism after United’s slow start to the 2025/26 season – just months after losing the Europa League final against a poor Tottenham side.
That said, after five games last season, United had seven points (W2 D1 L2). That’s two points better off than now (W1 D2 L2).
The only real improvement from last season is goal difference (-2 < 0), but Carrick will still demand more from his attacking players after the international break. In both opening 5-game runs, it is alarming that the Reds conceded exactly eight goals and recorded zero clean sheets.
Premier League 2025/26 – first 5 fixtures:
Manchester United 0-1 Arsenal
Fulham 1-1 Manchester United
Manchester United 3-2 Burnley
Manchester City 3-0 Manchester United
Manchester United 2-1 Chelsea
Premier League 2026/27 – first 5 fixtures:
Hull City 2-0 Manchester United
Manchester United 5-2 Ipswich Town
Everton 2-2 Manchester United
Manchester United 0-1 Man City
Fulham 1-1 Manchester United
Carrick will be fully aware of the strong demand for improved results after the international break. Time will run out otherwise.
United’s next two league matches are against Tottenham and Leeds.