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United, who start the day in the bottom three, ended a nine-match winless run with an incredible comeback against Roma in midweek as Carrick continues to fight for his future
Manchester United host Aston Villa in the Premier League as under-fire manager Michael Carrick looks to build on their incredible comeback victory against Roma in midweek and stay in his job beyond the international break.
Carrick’s side ended a nine-match winless run as they came from behind to beat Roma on Tuesday and they now face an Aston Villa team guided by a head coach in Unai Emery who looks set to reject the chance to move to Old Trafford in order to keep developing his new-look squad.
The subject of Carrick’s future continues to dominate United’s last match for two weeks, but The Independent reported that interest in Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann, previously the two frontrunners for the job if Carrick is sacked, has cooled significantly.
It means United, who started the day in the bottom three, remain in limbo as they bid to respond to back-to-back Premier League defeats against Emery’s side, who are unbeaten in five games in the division with in-form striker Nicolas Jackson scoring five goals in his last five.
Follow updates from Manchester United v Aston Villa in the Premier League, below
For a few minutes earlier today, Manchester United hit rock bottom: bottom of the Premier League. Then Crystal Palace conceded to Liverpool and they went up to 19th in the live table. They, and Michael Carrick, could do with a win. Carrick resists the temptation to pick Shea Lacey and instead keeps Amad in the team. After Ayden Heaven's poor performance against Roma, it is Noussair Mazraoui who stands in for the suspended Lisandro Martinez. A former United defender, Victor Lindelof, returns to Old Trafford as Aston Villa's right-back, with Matty Cash banned.
Richard Jolly, Senior Football Correspondent8 November 2026 16:20
Even as he risks being consigned to Manchester United history, Michael Carrick was talking about Manchester United’s history. They are celebrating one of their managers and, whether or not Aston Villa are defeated on Sunday, it is not him. Friday marked the 40th anniversary of Sir Alex Ferguson’s appointment. There is a dinner this weekend to honour the great Scot.
There is also the chance Sunday marks Carrick’s last game at the helm. Ferguson has been in charge for two-thirds of the last four decades and end his tenure of his own volition, retiring after 26-and-a-half years. Carrick could become the seventh man sacked since then, without even including the interim appointment Ralf Rangnick. He is already the fifth of Ferguson’s former players to have served as caretaker manager.
Ferguson has been the inspiration for them all. He remains the benchmark, the gold standard, but also the anomaly.
A banner at Old Trafford, commemorating Ferguson, reads: “The impossible dream”. For much of the last 13 years, following him has seemed similarly impossible.
As the club celebrate the 40th anniversary since the great Scot arrived at Old Trafford from Aberdeen, it is the task of following in Sir Alex’s footsteps that now appears to be ‘the impossible dream’, writes Richard Jolly
Richard Jolly, Senior Football Correspondent8 November 2026 16:15
Aston Villa have only won at Manchester United twice in their last 41 attempts, losing their last tix trips to Old Trafford. Their last victory came in September 2021.
Richard Jolly, Senior Football Correspondent8 November 2026 16:05
Michael Carrick has challenged Matheus Cunha to replicate his catalytic display against Roma, when he won a penalty and scored two goals, to double his tally for the season.
“He has to repeat that performance,” Carrick said. “He was fantastic and that's close to his best, and that's the level where we want to see.”
Cunha was sent off after his dramatic double against Roma, but is free to play in the Premier League.
Richard Jolly, Senior Football Correspondent8 November 2026 15:50
Michael Carrick said Bruno Fernandes’ attitude is “as good as ever” and he has no doubts about his commitment again after their falling-out.
The United manager dropped his captain after Fernandes criticised his tactics during the 4-1 defeat to Como and chose not to bring him on in the 3-0 loss to Bournemouth.
But Carrick and Fernandes held talks last week and the Portuguese returned to the team at Chelsea on Saturday before playing his part in their comeback win over Roma, scoring their first goal with a twice-taken penalty and providing the assist for Matheus Cunha’s equaliser.
“I think by his actions, the way he's played and how he dealt with even retaking the penalty and frame of mind he was in for that, I think that tells everything,” said Carrick. “Yeah, Bruno's as good as ever.”
The 45-year-old has not revealed if Fernandes apologised to him, adding: “What's actually said in that discussion, you'll be pleased to know I'll keep that to myself.
“But I think it's pretty clear we've moved in a good direction, and Bruno's commitment is undoubted for me of what he brings to this team and this club, and I think he showed that again this week.”
Richard Jolly, Senior Football Correspondent8 November 2026 15:35
Taylor Harwood-Bellis makes his first Premier League start for Aston Villa, who are without both the suspended Matty Cash and the injured Aaron Wan-Bissaka. Harwood-Bellis joined Villa in a £25m move from Southampton and is the son-in-law of former United captain Roy Keane. Leon Goretzka and Alysson also come in as Unai Emery makes three changes from the team that lost 3-0 at Barcelona in midweek, with Cash, Joao Gomes and Emi Buendia dropping out.
Aston Villa XI: Suzuki; Harwood-Bellis, Lindelof, Torres, Maatsen; Kamara, Goretzka; McGinn, Manzambi, Alysson; Jackson
Jamie Braidwood8 November 2026 15:23
Two changes for Manchester United, with Youri Tielemans and Noussair Mazraoui returning in place for the injured Carlos Baleba and Ayden Heaven, who struggled in midweek.
Shea Lacey is on the bench after his impressive cameo against Roma, while Patrick Dorgu is back in the squad following injury.
Man Utd XI: Lammens, Dalot, Yoro, Maguire, Mazraoui, Tielemans, Mainoo, Diallo, Fernandes, Cunha, Mbeumo.
Jamie Braidwood8 November 2026 15:20
Man Utd XI: Lammens; Dalot, Yoro, Maguire, Mazraoui; Tielemans, Mainoo; Amad, Fernandes, Cunha; Mbuemo
Aston Villa XI: Suzuki; Harwood-Bellis, Lindelof, Torres, Maatsen; Kamara, Goretzka; McGinn, Manzambi, Alysson; Jackson
Jamie Braidwood8 November 2026 15:15
... will be coming up from Old Trafford in the next five minutes or so.
Carlos Baleba is facing several weeks out with the hamstring injury suffered in Manchester United’s win over Roma. Lisandro Martinez is suspended, while Partick Dorgu is an injury doubt, with Luke Shaw, Manuel Ugarte, Marcus Rashford and Benjamin Sesko sidelined.
Aston Villa defender Matty Cash will miss out through suspension after he picked up a fifth yellow card in last week’s draw with Fulham. Fellow defender Aaron Wan-Bissaka will face a late fitness test ahead of a meeting with his old club while Matteo Ruggeri and Amadou Onana remain out.
Jamie Braidwood8 November 2026 15:10
Emery is on the verge of signing a new contract with Aston Villa beyond 2029, which feels a pointed message ahead of this afternoon’s trip to Old Trafford and Manchester United
Emery is on the verge of signing a new contract with Aston Villa beyond 2029, which feels a pointed message ahead of Sunday’s trip to Old Trafford and Manchester United
Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer8 November 2026 15:00
United, who start the day in the bottom three, ended a nine-match winless run with an incredible comeback against Roma in midweek as Carrick continues to fight for his future
Manchester United host Aston Villa in the Premier League as under-fire manager Michael Carrick looks to build on their incredible comeback victory against Roma in midweek and stay in his job beyond the international break.
Carrick’s side ended a nine-match winless run as they came from behind to beat Roma on Tuesday and they now face an Aston Villa team guided by a head coach in Unai Emery who looks set to reject the chance to move to Old Trafford in order to keep developing his new-look squad.
The subject of Carrick’s future continues to dominate United’s last match for two weeks, but The Independent reported that interest in Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann, previously the two frontrunners for the job if Carrick is sacked, has cooled significantly.
It means United, who started the day in the bottom three, remain in limbo as they bid to respond to back-to-back Premier League defeats against Emery’s side, who are unbeaten in five games in the division with in-form striker Nicolas Jackson scoring five goals in his last five.
Follow updates from Manchester United v Aston Villa in the Premier League, below
United’s remarkable comeback to beat Roma 3-2 in the Champions League in midweek earned Carrick a stay of execution and now, he must try to take advantage
United’s remarkable comeback to beat Roma 3-2 in the Champions League earned Carrick a stay of execution and now, he must try to take advantage
Richard Jolly, Senior Football Correspondent8 November 2026 14:40
As Manchester United returned to the training ground after this week’s Champions League heroics, some there couldn’t help but repeat an old football truth: “Everything feels completely different after a win.”
That will be even more pronounced now, given that United have just ended their longest winless run in 40 years. The 3-2 win over Roma was their first victory since the 4-0 over Sabah, 10 games ago.
Amid the raucous celebrations from a vintage comeback, there was of course considerable relief. It at least, for now, puts off a huge call.
A vintage Old Trafford comeback, encouraging underlying numbers and doubts over the list of potential replacements mean there is a growing sense that Carrick could yet survive the international break, writes Miguel Delaney, even if they lose to Aston Villa on Sunday
Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer8 November 2026 14:20
Nottingham Forest’s victory over Manchester City means Manchester United have dropped into the bottom three of the Premier League table.
And they could actually kick-off against Aston Villa rock-bottom, if Crystal Palace avoid defeat to Liverpool and Sunderland beat Chelsea in the 2pm games.
Jamie Braidwood8 November 2026 14:00
“My ambition is to keep our consistency and how we are improving and building lots of things positively. It is a huge challenge.
“They decided, speaking with us last year, to build a new stand to add more supporters at Villa Park. That is a clear step forward to get better.
“How we are increasing our budget each year, and revenue through our performance by playing in Europe and improving players, selling players, then buying young talented players, this is the process and ambition we should keep in the future.
“I had a good meeting with Nassef Sawiris, very good meeting, very positive. Let’s talk next week, trying to get everything we spoke about together.
“We were speaking about how we can set our project stronger with a deal, yes.”
Jamie Braidwood8 November 2026 13:40
Aston Villa boss Unai Emery confirmed there have been talks to build a “stronger” project at the club by signing a new contract at Villa Park.
On Wednesday, the day after Villa’s 3-0 Champions League defeat to Barcelona, the club announced they held a meeting to discuss their long-term strategy beyond 2029, when Emery’s contract is due to expire.
The Villa boss has been linked with several other clubs – including Sunday’s opponents Manchester United – but was involved with long-term talks which included the club’s chairman Nassef Sawiris.
There has been no confirmation of a new deal for the Spaniard, but Emery touched on committing his long-term future with the club and says there will be further contract talks next week.
Manchester United will be without Carlos Baleba for several weeks due to the hamstring injury he suffered against Roma.
United are waiting to discover if the £70m signing will play again this year as they are still to learn the full extent of his problem.
“We don't know, but it will be a number of weeks,” said manager Michael Carrick, “It won’t be after the international break [that Baleba returns]. It'll be a little bit longer than that.”
The 22-year-old went off in tears after pulling up in the first minute of the second half on Tuesday and was not expected to be fit for Sunday’s match against Aston Villa.
But now he is set to miss the trip to Anfield on 22 November and the Champions League game against Sporting CP three days later.
United face seven games in December, including a visit to Arsenal on December 20 and it is uncertain if Baleba will be fit in time to return then.
Baleba, who missed the start of the season with an ankle injury, has only started five games since his £70m move from Brighton.
Richard Jolly, Senior Football Correspondent8 November 2026 13:00
Julian Nagelsmann’s stock has significantly dropped, meanwhile. While Manchester United’s Christoph Vivell is said to be a fan, others in the hierarchy will be aware that Bayern Munich would not speak highly about his time there. The players didn’t respond well to his approach or personality, and the image persists of Nagelsmann arriving to training on a skateboard. It is hard not to think of a line from The Sopranos. In the same way “a don doesn’t wear shorts”, a Manchester United manager doesn’t have a skateboard.
Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer 8 November 2026 12:40
Manchester United have been racked by indecision over the future of Michael Carrick. Numerous sources say there is a sense that no one was actually willing to make a call on the manager, a problem compounded by the fact they have “little idea” over a replacement.
In fairness, there are questions and debates over all of the main alternatives. United are understood to be much less sold on Eddie Howe than perception would have it. Sebastian Hoeness is highly rated, but his appointment would still involve a huge Ruben Amorim-like leap from Stuttgart. Fabian Hurzeler might struggle without Brighton’s structure amid higher stakes, and there are doubts over whether United can even afford the compensation. Cesc Fabregas is impressing at Como but isn’t going anywhere for now, and is viewed as Mikel Arteta’s eventual successor at Arsenal.
Miguel Delaney, Chief Football Writer8 November 2026 12:35
Manchester United remain in a ‘will they, won’t they’ situation as they prepare to host Aston Villa in the Premier League and their last match before the international break.
Michael Carrick has so far survived the thrashing at Como, the humiliation at Bournemouth and the unravelling at Chelsea, while finally ending United’s nine-match winless run by beating Roma in the Champions League in midweek.
But will that be enough? Or can Unai Emery’s Aston Villa give United another day to forget and leave the Old Trafford hierarchy with a decision to make over the upcoming fortnight.
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