Manchester United suffered a memorable defeat in the Carabao Cup second round at Grimsby last season, a loss that has become almost emblematic of the period under former manager Rubén Amorim. While that night was undeniably a low point, the recent home defeat to Brighton, though less dramatic, echoes similar concerns for Michael Carrick, the manager who succeeded Amorim.
Youri Tielemans, United's captain in the Brighton match, confessed after the game that once the team fell behind 2-0, they essentially stopped playing with purpose. The atmosphere at Old Trafford from roughly the 20-minute mark onward made it clear that Brighton were in control and the result was heading in one direction. Even with the introduction of Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha, United could not generate any meaningful threat.
This lack of response is likely to keep Carrick awake at night. Since returning to the club in January, Carrick has endured a handful of defeats but has consistently tried to highlight the positives and defend his players. Against Brighton, however, there was no redeeming narrative to cling to.
When Carrick and his coaching team first arrived, they were praised for tightening a defence that had previously looked porous, and those early compliments were reinforced by impressive victories over Manchester City and Arsenal. The arrival of experienced figures such as Steve Holland, Jonathan Woodgate and Jonny Evans seemed to bring instant improvement to the back line. Nevertheless, the defensive frailties that have resurfaced this season cannot be ignored. United have now allowed two goals in three of their four Premier League fixtures, and the Brighton loss exposed those weaknesses once more.
One of the goals was a clear mistake by goalkeeper Karl Darlow, but beyond that, the overall shape and coordination of the back four were disjointed and lacked any clear cohesion. Left-back remains a particularly glaring issue for Carrick. Although he has not publicly singled out the position as a critical weakness, the problem is evident and was known to the club hierarchy during the summer transfer window.
Luke Shaw, United's only senior left-back, has missed the last three games with a minor injury. Given Shaw's age, his injury history and the fact that he was a reliable option last season, it was arguably shortsighted not to reinforce that area.
Carrick has experimented with Noussair Mazraoui at left-back, but the Moroccan appears to have slipped down the pecking order, with the less experienced Patrick Dorgu being preferred for the Manchester derby loss. Young prospect Harry Amass has also not been earmarked as a long‑term solution. Consequently, the question remains: how will United address the left‑back vacancy for the remainder of the campaign? Critics who question Carrick's job security after only a few weeks of the new season may be premature.
Since his return in January, United have amassed the highest points total in the league among all teams. Yet, as Carrick himself acknowledged, moments such as Ainsley Maitland‑Niles' equaliser for Everton, the controversial VAR decision against Manchester City, and now the disheartening collapse against Brighton have altered the perception of progress. If United were to lose their upcoming fixture against Fulham, the conversation will inevitably turn to whether Carrick can navigate the club out of the current storm. While that debate may be reserved for later, it is worth noting that Carrick deserves some empathy for the squad he has inherited.
The lack of player sales and incoming transfers over the summer has limited United's ability to bolster the roster, but it does not fully excuse the club's neglect of key areas that need reinforcement. The left‑back position, as previously highlighted, should have been a priority in the transfer market. Additionally, with Benjamin Šeško still nursing a shin injury throughout the summer, United might have benefited from signing a temporary No.9 to share the burden rather than deploying Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo out of position.
Both forwards have struggled to recapture the form they displayed under Carrick last season. Ultimately, until United can execute a comprehensive rebuild in a single transfer window, they will continue to be stuck in a cycle of incremental improvements using players leftover from previous regimes. This may explain the boos that rang out at Old Trafford after the Brighton defeat – not merely a reaction to that single performance, but an expression of frustration with a perceived repeating pattern of false dawns after promising starts under new management. It is still early days, and Carrick deserves the time to prove his worth based on the achievements of the previous season.
Nevertheless, the waters he must navigate are undeniably choppy, and the ultimate judgment will rest on his shoulders. If he can halt the downward spiral, even without a win against Fulham, a solid performance could buy him valuable time to steer the ship back onto a steadier course.