Manchester United’s return to the Champions League was meant to give the new season a continental lift, but the mood around Old Trafford has turned sharply after a start that has matched the club’s worst in the Premier League era.
Michael Carrick arrived after Rúben Amorim’s dismissal as an emergency solution and had overseen encouraging signs before the campaign: United went unbeaten against the Premier League’s traditional Big Six, secured Champions League qualification and assembled a squad considered capable of competing in 2026-27.
That promise has not travelled into the opening weeks. United have only five league points and sit 12th, repeating a historically poor beginning to a Premier League season that had also occurred less than five years ago.
Quick facts
- Manchester United are 12th in the Premier League with five points.
- Their only league victory so far was a 5-2 home win over Ipswich Town.
- United are four points behind Leeds in a European place and two above the highest relegation position.
- Carrick’s side resume league action on 10 October, away to bottom club Tottenham Hotspur.
- Champions League meetings with Atlético de Madrid and then a league match against Leeds follow.
The warning signs appeared during pre-season. United beat Atlético de Madrid in their opening friendly, then drew with Paris Saint-Germain and Leeds United before losing 4-2 to Milan, with Amorim facing the club he had previously managed.
Hull City, newly promoted, then handed United an opening-day away defeat. A 5-2 win against fellow promoted side Ipswich remains their sole Premier League success.
Against Everton in the third round, Benjamin Sesko came off the bench to score what looked set to be the winner. Ainsley Maitland-Niles instead produced a late strike to leave the contest level at 2-2.
There was a 4-0 Champions League victory over Sabah in midweek, but domestic problems quickly returned. United lost the Manchester derby after a disputed Erling Haaland goal, while Phil Foden’s red card also drew controversy.
Brighton then knocked Carrick’s side out of the Carabao Cup, recovering to win 3-2. The latest league outing brought a 1-1 draw with Fulham, leaving United caught between the European chase and the lower reaches of the table.
An October test in north London and beyond
The pause until 10 October gives Carrick time to reset a season that has stalled before it found rhythm. Tottenham are bottom of the table, making the London trip an immediate opportunity for United to restore ground.
Atlético await in Europe during the following week, before Leeds provide another significant league test. If results elsewhere cooperate, United could close directly on the side currently occupying a European qualifying position.
For Carrick, the task is to prevent the early turbulence becoming the kind of campaign-ending slide that brought Erik ten Hag’s final season in charge to an end.
