Gary Neville has warned that pressure is intensifying on Michael Carrick following Manchester United's damaging derby defeat, a result that leaves the club matching its worst start to a Premier League season.
United's 1-0 loss to Manchester City at Old Trafford came despite a significant numerical advantage for most of the match. Phil Foden's early red card in the first half should have handed the hosts a platform to dominate, yet Erling Haaland's controversial goal proved decisive.
The refereeing body Pro Ref acknowledged a serious error in the decision-making process. Hours after the final whistle, the organisation made contact with Manchester United to admit an
"error of judgment"and revealed that the VAR
"should have recommended an on-field review"regarding the goal. Enzo Fernandez, positioned in an offside position, may have impacted play in the build-up to Haaland's finish. Sky Sports News understands United have since received an apology over the incorrect VAR decision.
Yet Neville's assessment went beyond the controversial nature of the winning goal. The former United defender stressed that Carrick's side must shoulder responsibility for their own shortcomings during the encounter.
"Michael Carrick can be angry about the goal but he should also be angry about the performance,"Neville said on the Gary Neville Podcast.
"It was an awful last 10 minutes from an experience perspective for Manchester United because that's where you think, to be fair, you throw the kitchen sink at it, and you're building the crowd up and the pressure up and it's a pressure cooker and you get a goal."
The defeat has exposed a troubling pattern in how United manage matches when opponents are reduced to 10 men. Over the past year, the club has now lost three games against teams playing with a numerical disadvantage. Beyond Sunday's loss to City, United suffered a 1-0 defeat to Everton last season following Idrissa Gana Gueye's red card at Old Trafford.
The result leaves United with just four points from four games, equalling the club's worst start to a Premier League season. Carrick's record after four matches mirrors that of his predecessor Ruben Amorim at the same stage last season, a comparison that underscores the seriousness of the situation.
Neville acknowledged that the campaign remains in its infancy but stressed that concerning patterns are already emerging.
"It was a bad day for Manchester United, it really was,"he said.
"You're losing a derby, it's a shocking day anyway. I've lost derbies myself, it's awful, but then to not score a goal against 10 men is not what I expected today. I expected goals from Manchester United."
The pundit highlighted broader issues with United's form and resilience.
"It is early but there are some concerning signs. They're not playing well in matches and they're also struggling in matches. Even the game against Ipswich; Ipswich were good for 55 minutes and caused big problems. They could have scored two or three, so there's some questions building."
According to The Guardian, Manchester City managed to secure victory despite playing three quarters of the match with 10 men following Foden's dismissal, a remarkable achievement that compounds United's frustration.
The pressure on Carrick will intensify rapidly over the coming days. Manchester United face Brighton in the Carabao Cup on Wednesday, 16 September 2026, providing little time for the squad to recover mentally from the derby disappointment. The midweek fixture comes at 8pm, indicating a quick turnaround after the emotional toll of losing at home.
Neville believes the subsequent Premier League fixture will prove even more significant for Carrick's tenure.
"Next Sunday against Fulham, that becomes a real pressure game now because obviously Fulham have not started the season that well,"he said.
United travel to Fulham on Sunday, 20 September 2026 in their next Premier League outing, a fixture that has taken on heightened significance given the club's poor start. The back-to-back matches against Brighton and Fulham represent a critical window for Carrick to arrest the slide and ease the mounting pressure on his position.
