Manchester United slump deepens as Manchester City await Premier League verdict
United head to Leeds with Michael Carrick under pressure, while table-topping City face more than 100 charges and Brighton rise behind them.
At a glance
- Manchester United travel to Leeds with manager Michael Carrick under growing pressure after a 2-0 defeat by Atletico Madrid.
- United have won one of six league games and are on their worst league start in 40 years.
- Manchester City top the table with six wins from six but face more than 100 Premier League charges, which they deny.
Manchester United travel to rivals Leeds for their next Premier League match with manager Michael Carrick under intensifying pressure, after a 2-0 defeat by Atletico Madrid and defender Lisandro Martinez's public criticism of the club's hierarchy.
United have won only one of their opening six league games and are off to their worst league start in 40 years. They were also knocked out of the League Cup last month by Brighton.
Martinez apologises
Martinez criticised the club's lack of investment and took aim at technical director Jason Wilcox after United added only three midfielders during the transfer window. He has since apologised for his comments.
Carrick is increasingly at risk of becoming the latest manager unable to reverse a sharp decline at Old Trafford since Alex Ferguson's retirement in 2013. Leeds last beat United at Elland Road in 2002, but they did hand Carrick the only home defeat of his interim spell in charge last season when the sides met in April.
Carrick said the hostile atmosphere awaiting his side is the perfect chance to respond. "What a great game [on] Sunday to prepare for. It's a fantastic game for us, for the club, for the history, for the supporters," he said. "Everything to do with the game is a great game, so we'll be ready for that."
City's unresolved case
Manchester City sit top of the table with six wins from six league games, but that record could count for nothing if they fail to overturn a guilty verdict on more than 100 charges of breaking Premier League rules. City deny any wrongdoing. The case began eight years ago and at least a few months remain before the appeal is heard and a potential sanction announced.
"My underlying thought is none of this is good for football and there are no winners," former England manager Gareth Southgate said. The football regulator in England said after City's appeal that he expects an outcome by January.
City can stretch their lead at the top to six points when Ipswich visit the Etihad on Saturday. Arsenal are not in action until 24 hours later at Nottingham Forest.
Brighton's opportunity
Brighton could be among the biggest winners if City suffer severe sanctions. They sit two points behind second-placed Arsenal before Sunday's grudge match against Crystal Palace, and Arsenal's only defeat this season came in a 3-0 loss to Brighton.
The Seagulls have risen through the divisions and into Europe on the back of owner Tony Bloom's expertise in data analytics, though they have yet to play Champions League football. Manager Fabian Hurzeler wants his side to show a tougher edge against Palace. "We want to be ruthless. We want to create this energetic atmosphere where it makes it so hard to come to this place," he said. "We have to keep building this together with our fans and not be the nice football club any more."
Source: Al Jazeera.
Questions and answers
- Why is Michael Carrick under pressure at Manchester United?
- United have won just one of their opening six league games and are off to their worst league start in 40 years. They were also eliminated from the League Cup by Brighton last month.
- What charges does Manchester City face?
- City face more than 100 charges of breaking Premier League rules and are appealing a guilty verdict. The club denies any wrongdoing, and the case began eight years ago.
- Why could Brighton benefit from Manchester City's case?
- Brighton could be one of the big winners if City suffer severe sanctions, according to the source. Brighton are two points behind second-placed Arsenal before playing Crystal Palace.
