Manchester United desperately need to improve their fortunes over the coming weeks as Michael Carrick makes unwanted history with the pressure on him ramping up
Manchester United have continued to find ways to outdo themselves when it comes to slow starts, but this term Michael Carrick has presided over the club's worst beginning to a campaign since 1986.
It has been 40 years since United sat with six points from six games - that coming courtesy of just one win against newly promoted Ipswich Town. Tottenham's late equaliser on Saturday night denied United another win as they struggle to hold onto leads.
Slapped in between their six, largely underwhelming league games, was a Champions League win over Azerbaijan-based side Sabah and a loss to Brighton in the Carabao Cup - the Seagulls winning 3-2 after trailing 2-0 at half-time as United were booed off.
Jeers at Old Trafford have become all too familiar for Carrick and his players, but their performances have ultimately deserved them.
The recent international break has not served as a reset, the level of dominance Tottenham enjoyed on Saturday highlighted the flaws that exist in this United team. The pressure is very much on a man who already had people questioning his credentials, even if he did have a positive interim spell.
Carrick is the favourite in the sack race, underlining the scale of his decline since the end of last season. If - and its a big if - United are to make a change then the next international break would be the opportune time.
That would leave the player turned manager seven games with which to turn around his, and the team's, fortunes. The club's next seven outings include four in the Premier League and three in Europe.
It begins with perhaps the most daunting of all their assignments: Travelling to Atletico Madrid. The Spanish side are ruthless and anything United get will have to be earned, but Diego Simeone's side showed just how willing they are to carve up an injured animal when they faced Tottenham in Europe last season.
Heading to the Spanish capital is the first of two challenging away games inside a week with Leeds ready to welcome United to Elland Road on Sunday. The two rivals facing off often leads to a fiery atmosphere and this fixture last season was the last for Ruben Amorim before he received his marching orders.
Leeds have only lost one of their six opening games and have impressed on the whole with their fans desperate to take the scalp of United for the second time in six months.
United's relentless schedule will see them on the road again three days later, taking on an upwardly mobile Como side. The Italians have enjoyed a rapid rise under Cesc Fabregas and continue to impress. They're unlikely to be intimidated by United, especially one that is out of form.
After three away games on the bounce United will finish this current block with three of their final four games at Old Trafford. Bournemouth will head to Manchester having not lost there in their last three visits, scoring ten times.
Chelsea are United's last away day of October, and the Blues are showing signs that they are clicking into gear under Xabi Alonso. Whilst conceding goals has been an issue they've found scoring a simple task and their midfield quality could pose a major threat to a United team whose engine room is facing heavy scrutiny.
Roma will head to Old Trafford for a Champions League assignment, bringing back memories of the famous 7-1 victory United secured back in 2007. The odds of a repeat are slim, but excelling in Europe could keep the sharks at bay as far as Carrick is concerned.
Aston Villa are United's final game of this current window with Unai Emery's side heading to Manchester. For all their success in recent years the Midlands outfit have not enjoyed travelling to Old Trafford, with no win since 2021.
After that, the club game will take a pause. It will begin a two week countdown until United head to Anfield to face Liverpool. Carrick will hope, and expect, to be in charge for that iconic game, but a dire set of results between now and then will give the United hierarchy no choice but to weigh up their options.
Man Utd's upcoming fixtures
October 13 - Atletico Madrid (A) UCL
October 18 - Leeds (A) PL
October 21 - Como (A) UCL
October 25 - Bournemouth (H) PL
October 31 - Chelsea (A) PL
November 3 - Roma (H) UCL
November 8 - Aston Villa (H) PL