Carrick and De Zerbi Under Fire as Winless Tottenham Visit Old Trafford
Two under-pressure managers meet at Old Trafford
Manchester United and Tottenham head into Saturday's Premier League meeting at Old Trafford (kick-off 5.30pm, live on Sky Sports from 5pm) with strikingly similar problems despite very different summers — both managers are under scrutiny and both sides desperately need a win.
Spurs arrive bottom of the Premier League table, still waiting for a first victory of the 2026-27 campaign. Their 3-2 home defeat to Aston Villa before the international break left them with two points and a goal difference of -6 from five games, the club's worst start to a Premier League season, eclipsing their 2008-09 beginning (two points, -3).
United sit 12th after a last-gasp Matheus Cunha equaliser salvaged a 1-1 draw at Fulham, leaving them with five points from five league games — their joint-fewest at this stage of a Premier League campaign, matching 2014-15. The Red Devils are averaging just one point per game under Carrick in the Premier League this season, a sharp fall from the 2.3 points per game they averaged across his 17 league games last season.
Venkatesham backs De Zerbi to turn things around
Tottenham chief executive Vinai Venkatesham has publicly backed Roberto De Zerbi despite the club's dismal start, which followed a major squad overhaul featuring the likes of Sandro Tonali, Mateus Fernandes and Jan Paul van Hecke.
Speaking at a Fan Advisory Board meeting at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Venkatesham said the club had anticipated that such sweeping changes would take time to settle. "The club had made significant changes over the summer, both on and off the pitch, and we recognised that these might take time to take full effect," the minutes read. Venkatesham "expressed confidence in Roberto De Zerbi, in the players brought in and in the changes made, noting the considerable work under way behind the scenes."
De Zerbi does have one encouraging Old Trafford memory: he won his only previous Premier League away game against United, beating them 3-1 in September 2023 with Brighton. Only Sam Allardyce, Ronald Koeman, Pep Guardiola and Andoni Iraola have won their first two away visits to Old Trafford in the competition.
United hit by injury withdrawals
Carrick will be without several key players against Spurs, with Benjamin Sesko, Kobbie Mainoo, Marcus Rashford and Karl Darlow all withdrawing from international duty with their respective nations through injury.
"I have always played for Slovenia and will always play with heart and pride. The most important thing now is to fully dedicate myself to recovery," Sesko posted on Instagram following his withdrawal. "I am already working on getting back on the field as soon as possible and helping the national team and the club again."
Players to watch
Bryan Mbeumo has enjoyed a strong start to the campaign, scoring two goals in five Premier League appearances, and faces one of his favourite opponents. He has been involved in seven goals in his last six Premier League appearances against Spurs (six goals, one assist), netting home and away against them last season.
For Tottenham, the return of Mohammed Kudus has given supporters something to cheer. Despite playing just 123 minutes in the Premier League this season, Kudus ranks fourth for take-on success rate (58.8%, 10/17, minimum 10 take-ons), while he is second for goal involvements per 90 for Spurs since the start of last term (0.43, minimum 900 minutes).
The numbers behind the fixture
United won this exact fixture 2-0 in February, ending a six-game winless run against Spurs in the Premier League (D3 L3). However, the Red Devils are winless across their last three Premier League games (D2 L1) and last went four without a win in May 2025, during an eight-game stretch (D2 L6).
Despite ranking first for shots (113) and fourth for expected goals (9.89) in the Premier League this term, United's xG per shot (0.088) is the fourth-worst ratio in the division, better only than Hull City, Nottingham Forest and Spurs.
Spurs have lost 25 Premier League away games against United — only Everton (26 at Arsenal) have lost more on the road against an opponent in the competition. They have also failed to win any of their last 37 Premier League games in which they have conceded the opening goal (D8 L29); only between September 1996 and August 1998 have they endured a longer run (38 games, D7 L31).
In addition, only in 1912-13 (first 12 games), 2008-09 (first eight) and 1955-56 (first six) have Spurs failed to win any of their opening six games of a league campaign, while among ever-present sides in the Premier League in 2026, they have accumulated the fewest points (18).
Opta's win probability for Saturday: Manchester United 54.1%, draw 23.6%, Tottenham 22.3%.