Manchester United have made their worst start to a Premier League season after Sunday’s 3-0 defeat by Bournemouth left them with just seven points from their opening eight matches.
Michael Carrick’s side have won once, drawn four times and lost three games, leaving them 16th in the table and just one point clear of the relegation zone.
Their previous lowest points total at this stage of a Premier League campaign was nine, recorded in 2019-20 under Ole Gunnar Solskjær. United eventually recovered that season to finish third, but their current position offers little room for complacency.
It is only the third time the club have occupied a place in the bottom half after eight matches, with the other occasion coming in 2024-25, when they had 11 points.
Difficult Start in Europe
United’s struggles have extended to the Champions League, where they have taken three points from their opening three matches.
A 4-0 victory over Sabah offered an encouraging start, but defeats by Atletico Madrid and Como, by 2-0 and 4-1 respectively, have left them 21st in the league phase table.
It is only the third time since winning the competition in 1999 that United have managed just one victory in their first three Champions League matches, following similar starts in 2000-01 and 2023-24.
The poor results come after Carrick guided United towards Champions League qualification last season, earning himself the permanent job after replacing Ruben Amorim.
Growing Pressure on Carrick
However, confidence is beginning to drain away. Carrick received applause as he left the pitch against Bournemouth, while the players were booed by supporters.
Captain Bruno Fernandes was left out of the starting line-up following criticism of the manager’s tactics after the Como defeat. Carrick’s decision not to introduce him against Bournemouth has added another layer of scrutiny as United attempt to turn their season around.