AnalysisRichard Jolly: The glaring issue threatening to derail Manchester United’s season
Red Devils’ defence, which has conceded twice in every game so far this season, becoming a big problem for Michael Carrick
Manchester United manager Michael Carrick trudges off the pitch at the Hill Dickinson Stadium after his side conceded a late equaliser against Everton © Peter Byrne/PA Wire
Richard Jolly
7 Sep 2026 1:00 PM
As Michael Carrick knows from first-hand experience, Manchester United are no strangers to early-season defensive mishaps away at Everton. Fourteen years before Ainsley Maitland-Niles’ 96th-minute equaliser at Hill Dickinson Stadium, Rio Ferdinand joined a list of injured centre-backs, midfielder Carrick had to fill in and was bullied by his future teammate Marouane Fellaini, who scored a winner for David Moyes’ Everton.