Manchester United's crisis has reached a critical point. A 2-0 defeat at Chelsea on October 31 extended their winless run to nine matches across all competitions, their worst such streak since 1988, leaving them 17th in the Premier League with just seven points from nine games, above the relegation zone only on goal difference.

The Chelsea loss crystallised everything wrong at Old Trafford. United dominated the first half but failed to score, and the match unravelled after Lisandro Martinez received a second yellow card, conceding a penalty that Cole Palmer converted. Martinez has since drawn fierce criticism from pundits including Peter Schmeichel and Freddie Ljungberg, who branded his behaviour reckless and damaging to the team. His future at the club is now seriously in doubt, and he will miss upcoming fixtures through suspension.

Carrick survived an emergency board meeting before the Chelsea game, but the pressure has intensified sharply since. Jamie Redknapp has named Unai Emery and Eddie Howe as the only credible replacements, while reports indicate United have already made tentative approaches to Eddie Howe, Antonio Conte and Julian Nagelsmann. Erik ten Hag, now technical director at FC Twente, warned publicly that relegation is a real possibility.

On the transfer front, Barcelona left-back Alejandro Balde is open to a January move, while Folarin Balogun has been offered to United as a striking option. Carrick must now deliver results against Roma in the Champions League on Tuesday and Aston Villa in the Premier League next Sunday, with his future likely depending on both.