By Rafael Jonah
September 20, 2026
Manchester United’s troubled start to the Premier League season deepened on Sunday after Michael Carrick’s side needed a late Matheus Cunha equaliser to rescue a 1-1 draw against Fulham at Craven Cottage.
The result leaves United with just five points from their opening five league matches — their joint-lowest tally at this stage of a Premier League season, matching the 2014/15 campaign. They have recorded only one league victory so far.
For Carrick, who guided United to third place last season before taking the job permanently, the contrast is becoming increasingly difficult to ignore. A promising previous campaign has been followed by a start in which United have struggled to translate possession, pressure and chances into victories.
CUNHA RESCUES UNITED LATE
United appeared headed for another defeat after Lisandro Martínez turned the ball into his own net in the 63rd minute, giving Fulham the lead.
But with just one minute to go in regulation time, Cunha struck from a distance, and his effort took a significant deflection off David Affengruber before beating goalkeeper Bernd Leno.
The equaliser prevented United from suffering a third successive defeat in all competitions, following losses to Manchester City in the Premier League and Brighton in the League Cup.
Yet, the manner of the escape will do little to disguise the problems confronting Carrick.
United registered 29 attempts to Fulham’s 12, enjoyed 57 per cent possession and had 43 touches inside the opposition penalty area. However, both teams finished with six shots on target, underlining United’s difficulty in turning attacking volume into clear superiority.
United had already attempted 17 shots by half-time but managed only two on target.
The visitors also appealed for a penalty late in the game after Martínez’s effort struck Calvin Bassey, but play continued following a VAR check.
PRESSURE GROWS ON CARRICK
The concern for United is no longer simply one disappointing result. Five league matches have produced only five points, while performances have lacked the consistency expected after Carrick’s encouraging work last season.
United have shown they can create attacking pressure, but efficiency in front of goal and defensive vulnerability continue to undermine their efforts.
Carrick maintained after the Fulham draw that his team had done enough to potentially win the match and pointed to several saves from Leno. He nevertheless acknowledged that there were areas requiring improvement.
The international break now provides Carrick with valuable time to address those weaknesses, but what follows will offer an even sterner examination.
United return against Tottenham on October 10 before facing Atletico Madrid in the Champions League three days later. Premier League meetings with Leeds United and Bournemouth are also scheduled around a European trip to Como.
For a club that finished third last season and returned to Champions League football, five points from five matches represents a significant early setback.
Carrick has already demonstrated that he can produce results at Old Trafford. His challenge now is to prove that last season’s progress wasn’t a fluke.
After five Premier League matches, United are not yet in crisis — but the numbers are beginning to demand a response. Man United enthusiasts and the football community are watching closely with tension, hoping for a turnaround in fortune.
