Carrick under pressure as Man Utd host Bournemouth

MANCHESTER: Beset by infighting and off to their worst league start in decades, Manchester United host Bournemouth this weekend needing to end a seven-game winless run to quell talk of another mid-season managerial change. Michael Carrick’s side are 13th in the Premier League and could drop into the bottom three if results go against them.

At the other end of the table, Manchester City aim to extend their perfect start at Aston Villa despite doubts over the club’s future in the top flight, while third-placed Brighton, dreaming of an unlikely title challenge, face a stiff test at Liverpool.

Man Utd back in crisis mode

United sank to new depths in midweek with a 4-1 thrashing by Champions League debutants Como. Captain Bruno Fernandes took aim at his manager’s passive tactics after the match, saying United had to be more “brave”, but Carrick, who apologized to the traveling fans in Italy, hit back at his players for not covering enough ground.

“Whatever system you play, whatever tactics you play, if you don’t run and you don’t run forward, and you don’t run back, you ain’t going to win,” said the former United midfielder. The remarks came a week after defender Lisandro Martinez criticized the club’s board for not investing enough in the transfer market. United’s seven points from their opening seven games is their lowest return of the Premier League era, and after the departures of Erik ten Hag and Ruben Amorim in the past two seasons, they face another campaign of transition unless Carrick can quickly turn things around.

Only Barcelona have outscored Brighton in Europe’s top five leagues this season, with the Seagulls netting 23 times in seven games. Brighton have risen through the divisions and into Europe on the back of owner Tony Bloom’s expertise in data analytics, and their smart recruitment of players and coaches has kept them thriving despite routinely selling key players to wealthier clubs. They have yet to win a major trophy in their 125-year history, and visits to Anfield and Manchester City over the next two weekends will show where they stand.

“We can enjoy it, but on the other side it’s also very important to stay humble and stay grounded because in football things can change quickly,” said 33-year-old manager Fabian Hurzeler.

City face Villa Park test

Manchester City boss Enzo Maresca is the first manager to win his first seven Premier League games in charge of a new club. Yet that may count for nothing unless City win their appeal after being found guilty of more than 100 breaches of Premier League financial rules.

City have lost on their past three visits to Villa Park and face a resurgent side. Villa have won five and drawn one of their past six games in all competitions, with new signings Nicolas Jackson, Johan Manzambi and Zion Suzuki quickly settling in to offset the loss of Ollie Watkins, Morgan Rogers and Emi Martinez. “How we are responding, getting better, is really fantastic,” Unai Emery said after Villa beat Viking to make it three wins from three in the Champions League.

Fixtures (all times Kuwait, GMT+3)

Friday: Ipswich v Nottingham Forest (2200) Saturday: Aston Villa v Manchester City (1430), Arsenal v Everton, Coventry v Fulham (both 1700), Chelsea v Tottenham (1930) Sunday: Crystal Palace v Newcastle, Hull v Brentford, Liverpool v Brighton, Manchester United v Bournemouth (all 1700), Sunderland v Leeds (1930) — AFP