Manchester United host Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford this weekend in a fixture that has taken on outsized importance for both struggling sides, as manager Michael Carrick looks to arrest a worrying start to the campaign before a gruelling October schedule begins in earnest.
United currently languish in 12th place in the Premier League table with just a single league victory from their opening five fixtures. The club's troubles have largely gone unnoticed during the recent international break, with attention elsewhere in the division, but Carrick knows a response is overdue. Tottenham, meanwhile, arrive at Old Trafford rock bottom of the table with only two points collected despite a summer outlay of roughly £300million under new project lead Roberto De Zerbi. Spurs' lone league goals this season came in a 3-2 defeat to Aston Villa before the break.
The timing of the fixture could hardly be more pressing for United. October brings a demanding run that includes away trips to Leeds, Atlético Madrid, Como and Chelsea, meaning a home clash against the division's bottom side represents arguably the clearest opportunity to collect three points before conditions toughen considerably. A home game against Bournemouth is the only other fixture this month viewed as comparatively manageable.
Carrick still carries significant goodwill following his impressive interim spell last season, when United won 12 of 17 matches after he took charge in January. That record has bought him patience from the hierarchy, with the club keen to avoid another managerial upheaval mid-season. Still, there is recognition that performances need to improve markedly by the time October concludes.
United's season so far has been a study in contradictions. They have conceded fewer opposition touches inside their own box than any other Premier League team, yet remain the only side without a clean sheet. They also lead the league for touches in the opposition box but have struggled to turn that dominance into goals. Averaging 60% possession per match, United have shown an inability to convert control into decisive results — something evident even in their win over Ipswich, which relied heavily on a Bruno Fernandes hat-trick to see off the promoted side.
Up top, the attack has misfired badly. Matheus Cunha, deployed as the central striker, has only one goal all season, and a deflected one at that. No United player has more than a single assist, and only Fernandes and Bryan Mbeumo have found the net more than once. Marcus Rashford has offered flashes on the left flank but is yet to register a goal or assist since returning to the club that had frozen him out for a year and a half. With Benjamin Sesko sidelined through injury and Joshua Zirkzee failing to convince as an alternative, central striking options remain thin.
The most alarming display of the campaign so far came in the derby defeat to a ten-man Manchester City side after Phil Foden's red card. United were unable to exploit the extra man, appearing short of ideas and failing to create meaningful danger despite the numerical advantage.
Scrutiny has also fallen on United's summer business, which saw the signing of a free goalkeeper alongside three new central midfielders. Carlos Baleba, a £65m arrival from Brighton, is set to finally make his debut having recovered from an ankle issue, and his energy could prove vital for a midfield that has lacked bite.
Injuries continue to bite elsewhere. Kobbie Mainoo and Rashford were withdrawn from England duty, while Patrick Dorgu and Noussair Mazraoui had their international commitments cut short. Matthijs de Ligt has not featured competitively in ten months, and Amad Diallo is yet to appear this season.
With the first-team squad stretched, several academy players have trained with the group recently, including Noah Ajayi, who has reportedly impressed coaches Steve Holland and Jonathan Woodgate. Some believe a handful of youngsters could make senior debuts before the campaign ends. For now, though, Carrick's immediate focus is on finding a result against Spurs that can finally generate some momentum heading into a daunting month.
Based on reporting from The Guardian.