The key facts

  • Leeds — Manchester United 1:1: Mbeumo (35th minute) opened the scoring, Calvert-Lewin (51st) equalised
  • United have one win in seven Premier League rounds; AFP notes the worst record since the 1986/87 season, Kun.uz calls the start the worst in the club's history
  • Brighton thrashed Crystal Palace 5:0 and temporarily moved into second place; Bournemouth beat Sunderland 2:0

Draw at Leeds increases pressure on Carrick

Manchester United ended a turbulent week with a 1:1 draw against Leeds at Elland Road on Sunday, 18 October. According to AFP, the result does not ease the pressure on head coach Michael Carrick, who is in his first full season in charge of the team. Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring in the 35th minute, finishing off a pass from Youri Tielemans — his fourth goal of the season. In the 51st minute Dominic Calvert-Lewin equalised, controlling the ball with his chest after a corner delivery and a shot from Tarik Muharemović.

Course of the match

According to Kun.uz, the first 25 minutes passed without a single shot on target. In the 19th minute Gudmundsson struck Santos on the leg with the bottom of his shin guard — an episode which, in the outlet's assessment, could have earned a red card, but the referee only showed a yellow. United goalkeeper Senne Lammens tipped the ball off the underside of the crossbar in the 26th minute after a header from Nico Elvedi. Carrick brought on Mason Mount and Matheus Cunha in attacking plans, but the winning goal was not scored. According to Kun.uz, Martínez was substituted in the 46th minute for Mazraoui.

Crisis and conflict with Martínez

United have recorded only one win in seven league rounds and have not won in six matches across all competitions. AFP notes that this is the lowest number of wins at this stage of the season since the 1986/87 campaign, whereas Kun.uz calls such a start the worst in the club's history. The crisis intensified after United were knocked out by Atlético (0:2) in the Champions League: Argentine defender Lisandro Martínez gave a sharp interview in Spain on Tuesday, criticising insufficient investment in the summer transfer window. On Friday Carrick said the club had 'moved on' after the incident, and Martínez started the match. After the game Carrick told Sky Sports: 'If there is any weakness, it will be found today. I felt the players were ready. It was not perfect, our confidence is not at its highest, but the players tried to do the right things. At certain moments we looked very good, defending as a team.'

Coaches' rivalry

Kun.uz cites statistics of Carrick's head-to-head meetings with Daniel Farke: out of six duels Carrick has won only one, and that in the League Cup. Leading Middlesbrough in the Championship, he lost all four matches against Leeds, and in the second half of last season the Yorkshire side won 2:1 at Old Trafford. The outlet notes that the game came at a time when calls for Carrick's resignation are growing ever louder. United are 13th and, according to Kun.uz, have drawn for the third match in a row, sitting closer to the relegation zone than to the group of leaders.

Other matches of the round

Brighton under Fabian Hürzeler thrashed Crystal Palace 5:0 and, according to AFP, temporarily overtook Arsenal into second place. Three goals were scored in the first 10 minutes: a Jaydee Canvot own goal, a strike from Diego Gómez from inside his own half, and a goal from Yasin Ayari. In the second half Charalampos Kostoulas and substitute Jack Hinshelwood got on the scoresheet. Brighton's 23 goals in the first seven rounds are the fourth-best tally in Premier League history. Arsenal, trailing leaders Manchester City by six points, played Nottingham Forest in the evening — City have won all seven matches of the season. Bournemouth beat ten-man Sunderland 2:0 thanks to goals from Marcus Tavernier and Evanilson, recording their first league win.