Manchester United, Michael Carrick and Nottingham Forest
7 November 2026
Manchester United ended Saturday in the Premier League relegation zone after Nottingham Forest’s victory over Manchester City. It marks the first time in 40 years that United have occupied the bottom three at this stage of a top-flight season.
Forest’s 3-1 victory pushed United into the relegation places before their Sunday meeting with Aston Villa. Carrick’s team have not won a league match since beating Ipswich on 30 August. The previous comparable position came in November 1986 under Ron Atkinson, shortly before Alex Ferguson’s appointment. Carrick faces mounting pressure despite United’s recent Champions League comeback against Roma.
Why It Matters
United's worst league position at this stage in four decades increases the pressure on Carrick and the club's leadership.