United out of the Carabao Cup as Carrick faces Fulham

Out of the cup: United 2–3 Brighton

Your team led 2–0 at Old Trafford and lost 2–3. Shea Lacey and Mason Mount scored, then Brighton came back through Charalampos Kostoulas, Pascal Gross and Maxim De Cuyper (5) (11). Second season in a row United are out of the Carabao Cup straight away (2).

The sub made it worse. Jamie Redknapp on Joshua Zirkzee: "Zirkzee came on and couldn't pass the ball to his own teammate" (5).

Carrick on the brink before Fulham

Michael Carrick is under serious pressure and United travel to Fulham on Sunday (1) (4). Ben Jacobs says INEOS are already working on what happens next: "Manchester United are doing their DUE DILIGENCE in case they have to MAKE A CHANGE. I'm NOT SURE if there is UNIVERSAL BACKING to be perfectly honest" (1).

Get the next Manchester United FC brief by email

This article went out to subscribers as a brief. Get the next one straight to your inbox, free.

Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime

The club is drawing up a shortlist of replacements (13). Eddie Howe is named as willing to take over, and Antonio Conte is also being considered (9) (12).

Four games in, United sit 13th with 4 points and a goal difference of 0.

The physical numbers are brutal

New physical data has landed and it fuels the sack calls (4). It comes before a game Carrick badly needs to win at Fulham on Sunday (4).

Fans turned on Rashford and Dalot

Supporters told Marcus Rashford and Diogo Dalot to leave the club after the Brighton defeat (2) (11). Footage from outside Old Trafford, straight after the 2–3 (2) (11).

JJ Gabriel wants out, and the legends are not happy

United's 15-year-old JJ Gabriel has submitted a transfer request, with Bayern Munich, Real Madrid and Barcelona circling (6). Bayern chief Christoph Freund would not deny it: "We know the player because he's very talented. He's an exceptional talent. I can't say anything more about that" (6).

Gary Neville and Roy Keane both went at the teenager. Keane: "Are you telling me he can't wait? If you are 15 years of age and you're talking about playing for Man Utd's first team, just wait" (10).

Academy deals done, one more close

Goalkeeper Fred Heath and defender Dante Plunkett have signed their first professional contracts, and keeper Will Murdock has signed his second (8). Noah Ajayi is close to a long-term deal (8).

Liverpool keep beating you to it

Liverpool are ahead in the race for midfielder Cher Ndour after United's summer midfield business (17). Liverpool are also in for two full-backs United are tracking, one a possible free agent next summer (3). They have joined the race for Tyrick Mitchell and are in talks over a £60m-rated midfielder, with a United-linked full-back on their radar (14) (16).

United are also monitoring 15-year-old Gabriel Rajković, with Barcelona interested (15).

Fan reactions

The mood on r/reddevils has turned on the defending and on INEOS. One thread picks apart United's defensive shape and whether they miss Casemiro, another takes aim at the owners' transfer policy and the club's slide under their watch (1) (2). A Telegraph piece doing the rounds sums up the feeling: Carrick is on the cusp of the next United doom spiral.

Why Manchester United suddenly can't defend

Sources

  • 1. thepeoplesperson.com — INEOS are already looking at replacements as Carrick's position looks dicey ahead of Fulham - Ben Jacobs
  • 2. utdreport.co.uk — Video: Man Utd fans tell Rashford & 4/10 teammate to leave the club
  • 3. liverpool.com — Liverpool transfer news as Reds and Man Utd 'tracking' same defenders including free signing
  • 4. sportsmole.co.uk — Man United news: Damning stat emerges that fuels Michael Carrick sack calls ahead of vital Fulham Premier League game
  • 5. thepeoplesperson.com — Out-coached Carrick brought on sub who “couldn’t pass the ball” vs Brighton, says former England star
  • 6. thepeoplesperson.com — “We know the player…”: Bayern chief finally breaks silence over JJ Gabriel transfer links
  • 8. thepeoplesperson.com — Official: Manchester United confirm three players have signed new deals
  • 9. caughtoffside.com — Report: Man United ready to sack Michael Carrick with Eddie Howe willing to take over
  • 10. caughtoffside.com — Man United told to learn from Arsenal after JJ Gabriel transfer request sparks Neville warning
  • 11. dv.is — Stuðningsmenn United hjóluðu í tvo leikmenn eftir leik - Báðu þá að yfirgefa félagið
  • 12. fotbolltransfers.com — Uppgifter: Carrick pressad - han tar gärna över United Manchester United är redo att byta ut Michael Carrick, om resultaten inte förbättras snart, enligt uppgifter. England - 2026-09-18
  • 13. fichajes.net — La lista del Manchester United para suplir a Carrick
Get the next Manchester United FC brief by email

This article went out to subscribers as a brief. Get the next one straight to your inbox, free.

Free · No spam · Unsubscribe anytime

Share this article