Manchester United host Aston Villa on 08 November with Michael Carrick potentially managing his final match before the international break.
United have won only once in the league and remain under pressure despite beating Roma in midweek, while Villa, 12th, can climb into the top half with a draw or the top eight with a win.
United’s Champions League comeback against Roma eased some pressure on Carrick, but the manager remains under intense scrutiny. The club’s hierarchy has the international break as a point to consider its longer-term options.
United are winless in the league since beating Ipswich in August and have fewer wins than any other Premier League team. They’ve only that one league victory.
| Club | Current position | After a draw | After a win |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manchester United | Bottom three | Above Sunderland on goal difference, but still in the bottom three | 16th |
| Aston Villa | 12th | Into the top half, above Newcastle and Spurs | Top eight, above Brentford and Leeds |
Villa started badly, losing three of their first four league games and falling to 19th, before winning six of seven in all competitions, although their latest three results were a home draw with Fulham between heavy defeats at Bournemouth and Barcelona.
United’s league problems contrast with their longer-term record under Carrick: since he returned in January, United are third in the Premier League table, and only four of the 17 clubs in the league last season and this have won half their games in that period, Arsenal, Man City, Man United and Brighton.
Contrasting league form
Manchester United
One league win
- One point in the last-three-games form table
- Winless in the league since beating Ipswich in August
Aston Villa
12th
- Six wins in seven in all competitions after a poor start
- Last three results included a draw with Fulham
United’s poor run lasted seven weeks, from Phil Foden’s red card in the Manchester derby on 13 September to Lisandro Martinez’s red card at Stamford Bridge the previous weekend, and in the last-three-games form table United have one point while Manchester City have none.
Villa have also had to rebuild quickly after losing four players at once: Morgan Rogers, Ollie Watkins, Youri Tielemans and Ezri Konsa. Unai Emery has been linked with the Old Trafford job, although reports indicate he’s nearing a new contract with Villa.
The confirmed lineups are Lammens, Dalot, Yoro, Maguire, Mazraoui, Mainoo, Tielemans, Diallo, Fernandes, Cunha and Mbeumo for United. Suzuki, Lindelof, Harwoood-Bellis, Torres, Maatsen, Kamara, Goretzka, Alysson, McGinn, Manzambi and Jackson start for Villa.
Carrick made two enforced changes, with Noussair Mazraoui replacing the suspended Lisandro Martinez and Youri Tielemans replacing the injured Carlos Baleba, while Emery made three, bringing in Taylor Harwood-Bellis for his first league start for Villa, Leon Goretzka for Joao Gomes and Alysson for Emi Buendia.
Bruno Fernandes leads United out and hasn’t registered an assist since the win over Ipswich, although he played better against Roma on Tuesday.
The match also takes place against renewed opposition to the club’s ownership, as United fans protested against the Glazer and Sir Jim Ratcliffe ownership with a banner in the Stretford End, green and gold balloons and chants.
We don’t want a new stadium, we want new owners
Fan groups including The 1958 urged supporters not to buy drinks inside Old Trafford as part of a planned Booze Boycott.
Do not buy drinks inside Old Trafford.
A walkout was planned for the 21st minute, while many season ticket holders returned their tickets and put the match on general sale.
One supporter, Jemma Robinson, said she was torn between backing Carrick and opposing the club’s wider situation.
Hoping Carrick does well given he’s one of my Man Utd favourites, but torn as the club ownership/general situation is awful.
Wreaths were laid in the centre circle for Remembrance Sunday before kick-off. The Last Post was played and a silence was observed.
The teams meet at Old Trafford in Greater Manchester on 08 November 2026, with kick-off at 4.30pm GMT. The line-up information differs on the order of United’s back four: one listing has Mazraoui, Yoro, Maguire and Dalot, while another gives Dalot, Yoro, Maguire and Mazraoui, with the latter also noting a probable reshuffle with Yoro at centre-back.
It’s also unknown whether United would sack him during the international break, whether Emery will sign a new Villa contract or become a United candidate, and what the final score will be.
After the match on 08 November 2026, the international break gives United’s hierarchy a chance to assess Carrick’s future.
