Manchester United currently sit 13th in the Premier League after securing four points from their opening four matches this season. Their results include a 2-0 loss to Hull City, a 5-2 victory over Ipswich Town, a 2-2 draw at Everton, and a narrow 1-0 defeat to local rivals Manchester City on Sunday. The setback against City came shortly after United’s midweek Champions League win against Sabah, a schedule imbalance that left United with less rest compared to their opponents, who had 48 hours more recovery time following their win at Porto.
The team’s position has raised questions regarding the effectiveness of manager Michael Carrick’s leadership since he took over permanently last season. Carrick initially revived the club’s fortunes as interim coach following the dismissal of Ralf Rangnick, guiding United to a third-place finish. However, since his permanent appointment, results have declined, drawing comparisons—albeit cautiously—to the experience of former manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, who showed early promise but eventually oversaw a downturn. Concerns about Carrick’s future have been hinted at by the club’s director of football, Jason Wilcox, especially given the relatively short length of Carrick’s contract, which runs until 2028.
United’s recent performances have revealed a troubling passivity, particularly evident in their inability to capitalize on a man advantage during the recent derby against Manchester City. Despite Phil Foden’s early red card for City, United struggled to control midfield or create significant chances, registering less than one expected goal (xG) for the first time in 12 home league games under Carrick. Similar issues surfaced in the opening loss at Hull, where the lack of attacking threat compounded the team’s difficulties.
This season’s transfer strategy has also come under scrutiny. United’s pursuit of a new left-back throughout the summer, targeting players such as Newcastle’s Lewis Hall, Arsenal’s Myles Lewis-Skelly, and RB Leipzig’s David Raum, ultimately ended without a signing. Instead, the club invested heavily in midfield acquisitions, including Andrey Santos, Youri Tielemans, and Carlos Baleba, with £148 million spent on these three alone. The failure to reinforce the left-back position became apparent against Manchester City, where long-term injury-prone Luke Shaw was sidelined, forcing Carrick to rely on Patrick Dorgu, a player whose natural position is further forward. Dorgu’s defensive positioning errors contributed directly to City’s winning goal.
Among the new signings, only Tielemans has been a regular starter, though his impact remains limited, with both his performances and leadership under scrutiny. Santos has made just one league start so far, while Baleba has yet to feature due to injury and is not expected to return before the international break. Despite the cost, the summer acquisitions have yet to provide the intended boost to the squad.
In attack, Benjamin Sesko has shown promise since returning from injury, scoring in both the Champions League and Premier League, making him one of the team’s top scorers. With established forwards Marcus Rashford and Matheus Cunha yet to find the net in the league, Carrick may consider starting Sesko as a more direct option upfront in upcoming matches, including the trip to Fulham.
Looking ahead, United face a Carabao Cup tie against Brighton at Old Trafford on Wednesday, followed by a Premier League match at Fulham on Sunday. Early-season results and performances suggest the team still needs to find greater cohesion and consistency to climb the table.