Manchester United's early exit from the Carabao Cup at the hands of Grimsby Town last season remains a vivid memory for many supporters. That shocking defeat became almost synonymous with the tenure of former manager Rubén Amorim, marking a low point that still haunts the club. While Wednesday's home loss to Brighton may not have the same historical weight, it echoes similar themes for Michael Carrick, the man who took over after Amorim's departure.
Youri Tielemans, United's captain on the day of the Brighton defeat, confessed that once the team fell behind 2-0, their intensity evaporated. The match quickly turned into a one-sided affair, with Brighton asserting dominance from roughly the 20-minute mark onward.
Even the introduction of attacking options such as Bruno Fernandes, Kobbie Mainoo, Bryan Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha failed to spark any meaningful revival, leaving the Red Devils looking flat and uninspired. For Carrick, this lack of response is deeply concerning. Since his return to Old Trafford in January, the interim coach has often highlighted the positives in his side's performances, praising individual effort and spotting silver linings after setbacks.
Against Brighton, however, there was little to celebrate; the team simply could not find a way back into the contest. When Carrick and his backroom staff first arrived, they were greeted with a wave of optimism.
Defensively, United appeared organized and compact, a transformation that helped them secure impressive victories over rivals Manchester City and Arsenal. The arrival of experienced figures like Steve Holland, Jonathan Woodgate and Jonny Evans seemed to tighten the back line almost immediately. Nevertheless, the current campaign has exposed fresh vulnerabilities.
United have now conceded two goals in three of their four Premier League fixtures, a statistic that raises questions about the solidity of a defence that once looked so promising. The Brighton game highlighted these issues once more: while one goal resulted from a clear mistake by goalkeeper Karl Darlow, the overall shape of the back four was chaotic, lacking the cohesion that had been promised earlier in the season. A persistent problem for Carrick is the left‑back position. Although he has not publicly singled out this area as a weakness, the data and on‑field performances suggest it is a serious concern—a fact that the club's hierarchy was well aware of during the summer transfer window.
Luke Shaw, the only senior left‑back on United's books, has missed the last three matches due to a minor injury. Given his age, injury history and the fact that he was largely fit throughout the previous season, many observers consider it a strategic error not to have secured a reliable replacement. Carrick has experimented with Noussair Mazraoui in the role, but the Moroccan full‑back appears to have slipped down the pecking order, with the relatively inexperienced Patrick Dorgu being preferred for the Manchester derby loss.
Meanwhile, young prospect Harry Amass does not seem to be in the club's long‑term plans for that slot. The unanswered question, then, is how United will address the left‑back deficiency for the remainder of the campaign. It may feel premature to discuss Carrick's job security after only a handful of games in the new season, especially since United have amassed the highest points total of any team since his appointment in January.
Yet, as Carrick himself admitted, moments such as Ainsley Maitland‑Niles' equaliser for Everton, a contentious VAR decision against Manchester City, and now the disheartening collapse at Brighton have altered the narrative around his tenure. A defeat to Fulham on Sunday, broadcast live on Sky Sports, could ignite a fresh wave of debate about whether Carrick is the right person to guide United out of the current storm. While such speculation may be premature, it is worth acknowledging the challenges he faces with the squad he has been handed.
United's transfer activity over the summer has been notably quiet. The lack of significant departures and arrivals has limited the manager's ability to reinforce key areas. This raises the question of whether the club is simply ignoring vital needs.
The left‑back spot, as mentioned, should have been bolstered. Additionally, with Benjamin Šeško still nursing a shin injury, the decision not to bring in a temporary No.9 to share the goal‑scoring burden appears questionable. Instead, the club has persisted with Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo in roles that do not play to their strengths, and both have struggled to recapture the form they displayed under Carrick last season. Until United can execute a comprehensive overhaul in a single transfer window, they are likely to remain trapped in a cycle of piecemeal signings, relying heavily on players inherited from previous regimes.
This pattern may explain the boos that rang out at Old Trafford after the Brighton loss—not merely a reaction to the performance that night, but a broader frustration with what many perceive as a repeating cycle of false dawns under new management. It is still early days, and Carrick deserves patience for the achievements he delivered last season. Nevertheless, the waters he must navigate are undeniably choppy.
If he can arrest the slide, even without an immediate victory over Fulham, a strong performance could buy him valuable time to steer the club back onto a steadier course. The journey ahead will be demanding, but the potential for redemption remains within reach if strategic adjustments are made and confidence restored across the squad.