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Carrick appeared on the brink of the sack at the start of the week but has been given another game to try and end Manchester United’s winless run
Michael Carrick is once again fighting for his Manchester United future as his side travel to Chelsea in the Premier League.
Carrick appeared on the brink following the 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth last week but survived crisis talks with the United hierarchy and remains in charge for the trip to Stamford Bridge, despite the club sounding out Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann as his potential replacement.
An eight-game winless run in all competitions has heightened the pressure on Carrick, who has recalled Bruno Fernandes after holding clear-the-air talks with his captain. Fernandes was left on the bench last weekend after criticism of Carrick’s tactics but starts and captains United at Stamford Bridge.
There is some pressure on Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso, too, following the home defeat to rivals Tottenham last weekend and their exit from the Carabao Cup against Liverpool in midweek. Joao Pedro remains sidelined due to injury, although Cole Palmer returns from suspension.
Xabi Alonso makes four changes to the Chelsea line-up that lost to Tottenham in the last Premier League outing.
Maxence Lacroix, Jordan Henderson, Jorrel Hato and Geovany Quenda drop out of the team.
In their place come Wesley Fofana, Marco Palestra, Romeo Lavia and Estevao.
Mike Jones31 October 2026 11:21
Man Utd XI: Lammens; Yoro, Maguire, Martinez, Dalot; Santos, Baleba; Amad, Fernandes, Cunha; Mbeumo
Mike Jones31 October 2026 11:18
Chelsea XI: Penders; Acheampong, Fofana, Colwill; Neto, Caicedo, Lavia, Palestra; Estevao, Palmer, Rogers
Mike Jones31 October 2026 11:16
With just over an hour to go until kick, the official line-ups will be dropping shortly.
Chelsea have a few absentees but should be boosted by the return of Cole Palmer.
We’ll have to wait and see if Michael Carrick recalls Bruno Fernandes to the line-up.
Team news should drop in a few minutes’ time...
Mike Jones31 October 2026 11:10
Despite fair criticism of Michael Carrick as a coach, he has been left in a more challenging situation than any of his modern predecessors.
And that’s inevitably left him facing a familiar crisis that submerged all of them, too.
David Moyes had it almost immediately. Louis van Gaal had it in the winter of 2015. Jose Mourinho endured it from early 2018, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in mid-2021. Erik ten Hag had it from the start of the 2023-24 season and Carrick from the start of this one.
None ever fully recovered.
That is when a manager looks to have just “lost” a team, when the hold over them is “gone”.
And that’s when its centre can’t hold, and we see collapses like those against Como and Bournemouth.
As numerous sources suggest, the connection that was there last season has gone. It’s as if he just can’t get a reaction out of the squad any more – just like many of his predecessors eventually found.
Miguel Delaney, at Stamford Bridge31 October 2026 11:02
Spared the sack even with the club seemingly again in a spiral, Michael Carrick’s future appears bleak – but Miguel Delaney explains why a clash with Chelsea could offer vital clarity
Spared the sack even with the club seemingly again in a spiral, Carrick’s future appears bleak – but Miguel Delaney explains why a clash with Chelsea could offer vital clarity
Miguel Delaney31 October 2026 10:45
Bruno Fernandes’ form can be brilliant and frustrating, but Richard Jolly argues Michael Carrick’s choice as Man United captain shows the extent to how badly the squad has been built, given a lack of alternative leaders
Bruno Fernandes’ form can be brilliant and frustrating, but Richard Jolly argues Michael Carrick’s choice as Man United captain shows the extent to how badly the squad has been built, given a lack of alternative leaders
Richard Jolly, Senior Football Correspondent31 October 2026 10:28
“We always do what we think is going to get the best out of the team. Whether that’s certain players that you speak to at certain points, that’s normal.
“That’s why if you ask for leaders in the dressing room and you want opinions on certain things, then there’s going to be times when you ask that, that’s fine. Absolutely no problem, doesn’t mean that we always agree with that, but absolutely no problem with that. And then we head off in the same direction.”
Jamie Braidwood31 October 2026 10:15
Michael Carrick has insisted that Manchester United’s players and hierarchy are speaking the hard truth to each other in blunt discussions about their troubled season.
Carrick has survived as manager after crisis talks in which chief executive Omar Berrada and sporting director Jason Wilcox decided to give him the chance to reverse their slide.
And he held clear-the-air talks with Bruno Fernandes after dropping his captain following his criticisms of United’s tactics in last week’s 4-1 defeat to Como.
Carrick has also had meetings with his underachieving squad, who are only 16th in the Premier League and 20th in the Champions League after going eight games without a win, as he revealed they have been honest, even when that is not pleasant.
“It’s pretty clear,” he said. “It’s not always rosy and nice conversations between anyone, whether that’s between me and the players, whether that’s between me, Jason or Omar or the owners. It’s the truth, it’s the hard truth at times and it’s what we need to move forward. Whatever we need to move forward, we’ll do.”
Richard Jolly, Senior Football Correspondent31 October 2026 09:58
Michael Carrick has insisted he is not surprised to still be Manchester United manager and said he does not need any assurances from the Old Trafford hierarchy.
Carrick’s job has come under threat after a run of eight games without a win, culminating in heavy defeats to Como and Bournemouth.
But while the United powerbrokers held talks this week, they decided to keep the 45-year-old in his post for Saturday’s trip to Chelsea as they opted to give him the chance to turn their fortunes around.
Carrick had denied he was waving farewell to United when he went off the pitch at Old Trafford on Sunday and claimed he did not expect to be fired.
“No, I am here to do my job and do my job for the team,” he said. “So, I'm not surprised, no.
“I don't need any assurances from anyone. I totally get the position, I understand the job, I understand the responsibilities, I understand what comes with that. So, I really don't need any assurances from anyone in that regard.”
Richard Jolly, Senior Football Correspondent31 October 2026 09:40
Carrick appeared on the brink of the sack at the start of the week but has been given another game to try and end Manchester United’s winless run
Michael Carrick is once again fighting for his Manchester United future as his side travel to Chelsea in the Premier League.
Carrick appeared on the brink following the 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth last week but survived crisis talks with the United hierarchy and remains in charge for the trip to Stamford Bridge, despite the club sounding out Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann as his potential replacement.
An eight-game winless run in all competitions has heightened the pressure on Carrick, who is set to recall Bruno Fernandes after holding clear-the-air talks with his captain. Fernandes was left on the bench last weekend after criticism of Carrick’s tactics.
There is some pressure on Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso, too, following the home defeat to rivals Tottenham last weekend and their exit from the Carabao Cup against Liverpool in midweek. Joao Pedro remains sidelined due to injury, although Cole Palmer returns from suspension.
Joao Pedro remains out for Chelsea but Cole Palmer returns from suspension after missing Wednesday’s Carabao Cup defeat at Liverpool. Maxence Lacroix has been ruled out for a few weeks after hurting his hamstring at Anfield but Moises Caicedo is fit, while Estevao’s lack of involvement has become a talking point after he remained on the bench at Anfield. Mike Penders will remain in goal due to Emi Martinez’s broken jaw, with the young Belgian hoping to do a lot better than last week’s performance in the defeat to Tottenham.
Jamie Braidwood31 October 2026 09:01
Another Premier League weekend awaits as the Manchester United circus rolls on. This afternoon they’re up at Chelsea, who could be plunged into a bit of a crisis themselves if results go against them today.
But the big surprise is that Michael Carrick remains United manager. They say a week is a long time in football but the expectation following Sunday’s defeat to Bournemouth was that Carrick had taken charge of his final match. Instead, he has been given another opportunity to try and turn their season around.
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