Manchester United manager Michael Carrick faces Leeds trip amid five-match winless run
Archived — this story has rotated out of today’s deck. It is kept here in full.
The gist
Manchester United head to Leeds 13th in the table, more than a month without a win.
Carrick's side are also managing injuries and a wantaway academy talent.
Background
Michael Carrick is the Manchester United manager, under pressure after a poor start to the season. United have just two wins from their opening nine matches across all competitions — at home to Ipswich Town and Sabah FK — and sit 13th, three points and six places behind Leeds. The trip to Leeds comes after a 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid, and is followed by fixtures against Bournemouth, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Liverpool.
How it unfolded
- Aug 30, 2026Manchester United beat Ipswich 5-2, with Bruno Fernandes scoring.
- Oct 16, 2026Carrick says Luke Shaw and Kobbie Mainoo are doubts for the Leeds game and Benjamin Sesko is still undergoing checks; the club's official website reports Noussair Mazraoui is set to return.
- Oct 17, 2026United sit 13th, three points and six places behind Leeds, having gone more than a month without a win in any competition; late fitness checks are expected on Shaw and Mainoo.
- Oct 18, 2026United look to end a five-match winless run across all competitions; Lisandro Martinez is expected to remain in contention after criticizing the club's summer transfer business, apologizing, being fined and speaking with senior executives, with Carrick saying the matter is closed.
Who’s saying what
- Manager
- Carrick said of Shaw and Mainoo, "We'll see on Luke and Kobbie," and that Sesko is "kind of still undergoing a couple of checks" before timelines are updated.
- Analyst
- Former Everton chief executive Keith Wyness put JJ Gabriel's chance of staying at about 30 per cent and of going to Real Madrid at 70 per cent, saying United "obviously haven't made the window for his success, his match plan and his pathway very clear to him."
Still unverified
United have "apparently" been reluctant to cancel JJ Gabriel's registration, and a move to the continent "appears more probable than not", per the report.