Michael Carrick could stay in charge of Manchester United until at least the November international break after it was leaked that the club's hierarchy privately agreed to wait until then to make a firm decision on sacking him. Club officials convened for emergency discussions following the Bournemouth loss and will be compelled to reassess their stance after a ninth fixture without victory. United succumbed to a 2-0 loss against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge despite a promising opening, collapsing through substandard defending that allowed Morgan Rogers to break the deadlock before Lisandro Martinez collected a needless red card. Carrick's side remain outside the drop zone on goal difference but the club's prospects of achieving their goals are already in jeopardy.

Fixtures against Roma and Aston Villa await United next, and Carrick has already said he will be in charge for the next fixture. The possibility of defeat to Chelsea likely featured in deliberations when choosing to retain Carrick earlier in the week. According to The Athletic, United chiefs privately pledged to try and get to the international break before having to act on Carrick's future and will assess the situation following their next two fixtures. Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann are both targets and currently unattached, though Juventus are reportedly eyeing a move for the latter.

United sit four points adrift of the top half and nine points behind the top four, while Arsenal could stretch their advantage over them at the summit to 17 points with victory against Liverpool.

Speaking ahead of the Chelsea encounter, Carrick declined to be drawn on whether United's hierarchy ought to communicate more openly with supporters regarding the club's direction. "If there's one thing I care about from outside these walls it's what the supporters are thinking and how they are feeling. That's all that matters to me because we're all in this together," Carrick said.