Manchester United’s struggles deepened with a 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford against Bournemouth on Sunday, putting manager Michael Carrick’s position under increased scrutiny. The loss extended United’s winless streak to eight Premier League matches, leaving the club in 16th place, just one point above the relegation zone.
Bournemouth, continuing their strong start to the season under Marco Rose, secured a convincing victory with goals from Rayan, Marcus Tavernier, and Evanilson. This marked the third time in four seasons that the Cherries have defeated Manchester United 3-0 on home soil.
Carrick’s choice to leave captain Bruno Fernandes out of the starting lineup raised eyebrows, especially given the midfielder’s critical comments following United’s 4-1 loss to Champions League newcomers Como midweek. Carrick described the decision as “purely football” based, though Fernandes remained on the bench throughout the match, fueling speculation of a punitive motive.
Fans voiced their frustration, chanting “you’re getting sacked in the morning” toward the manager. Despite the heavy criticism, some observers suggest that removing Carrick may not provide an immediate solution, as United continue to grapple with inconsistency and a sharp decline since Sir Alex Ferguson’s retirement 13 years ago. Carrick had overseen a strong finish to last season in an interim role, helping United secure third place, but this campaign has been less forgiving. So far this season, the team has won only twice—against Ipswich in the league and Azerbaijani side Sabah in European competition—across 12 fixtures.
Elsewhere, Liverpool claimed a 2-0 victory over Brighton, handing the league’s surprise contenders their first defeat since August. The home side’s goals came in quick succession during the first half, with Brighton’s Pascal Gross scoring an own goal followed by a strike from Liverpool’s Alexander Isak. Isak has now scored six goals in seven league appearances this season, netting three times in his last four games, gradually justifying his £125 million ($167 million) transfer from Newcastle.
The win marked a significant milestone for Liverpool manager Andoni Iraola, who earned his first top-flight home league victory since joining from Bournemouth during the summer. Despite losing his initial three league games at Anfield, Iraola secured four consecutive wins across all competitions following Liverpool’s earlier 3-0 defeat to Manchester City.
Liverpool’s recent success has propelled them to fourth place in the Premier League, only one point behind Brighton in third and six points adrift of leaders Manchester City. The Reds will be aiming to maintain their form as they seek to mount a challenge for the title, having ended a frustrating run of five home league games without a victory dating back to last season.