Manchester United face Tottenham with Carrick under pressure

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 9 Oct, 16:45 · Archive

Manchester United face Tottenham on Saturday with the hosts having won just one of their opening five Premier League matches.

Manchester United sit 12th in the Premier League after winning just one of their opening five league matches, prompting scrutiny of manager Michael Carrick's start to the season. Tottenham, who visit Old Trafford on Saturday evening, are bottom of the table with two points from their opening fixtures.

The Guardian reports that the Tottenham match is already crucial for United. Spurs have had a difficult start despite spending £300m on their summer rebuild under Roberto De Zerbi. For Carrick's side, beating the worst team in the league is described as close to a necessity as they enter a very difficult October, which includes six fixtures with away games against Leeds, Atlético Madrid, Como and Chelsea.

The i Paper reports that United face issues across the pitch. The defence has struggled with the absence of reliable full-backs and injuries to key players, whilst Bruno Fernandes has underperformed in midfield, appearing disengaged. Kobbie Mainoo is described as the only midfielder functioning optimally. The i Paper notes that midfielder Carlos Beleba, a summer signing, is available and could release Youri Tielemans from the anchor role.

Carick retains credit in the bank from his work in the second half of last season, the Guardian reports, and will be given time to improve results. However, both outlets suggest United must show significant improvement by the end of October to stabilise their season. The i Paper suggests Carrick faces mounting pressure to produce a response, describing him as being close to crisis point.

How it is being reported

• It’s time for Man Utd to press the nuclear buttonMichael Carrick is one match from the knacker's yardThe i Paper · 9 Oct, 16:37
• Manchester United’s early wobble makes Tottenham visit a must-win for CarrickAfter a scratchy start in the league, injuries and an underwhelming Rashford, Spurs’s visit to Old Trafford is already crucial for the hosts The noise in the Premier League was focused elsewhere for the last two weeks of the international break, allowing a glorious silence to drift across Manchester United. Without Manchester City’s woes , Michael Carrick may have faced a more difficult time, with plenty to review in regards tothe first five games of the season. United sit solemnly in 12th with only one league win, and misery needs company. The hosts will find just that at Old Trafford on…The Guardian · 9 Oct, 16:10
• Carrick stays cool, but should he be worried about Man Utd's form?After three weeks off because of the international break, BBC Sport looks back at Manchester United's indifferent start to the new Premier League season, which saw Michael Carrick's side win just one of their opening five matches.BBC Sport · 9 Oct, 08:36

In this story: Manchester United · Tottenham · Michael Carrick · Bruno Fernandes · Kobbie Mainoo · Old Trafford · Premier League

This summary was written by AI from the headlines and standfirsts above, and states as fact only what at least two outlets report. How we use AI · Report a problem