Manchester United face arguably their biggest match of the season so far when they host Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on Saturday.
Both clubs came into the 2026-27 season full of hope and optimism, but each have made disappointing starts to the campaign.
Man United lie in 12th position having won just one of their opening five Premier League matches, against newly-promoted Ipswich Town at home, while Spurs are even worse off as they are bottom of the standings just months after they avoided relegation to the Championship on the final day of the season.
We are only five games in, and it is early days, but the outside pressure is beginning to build on both Michael Carrick and Roberto De Zerbi, with performances and results not where they were expected to be before the campaign got underway.
The two clubs spent more than £450m combined in the summer transfer window, but the majority of those additions are yet to have the desired effect on the teams yet.
The Red Devils were lucky to take a point against Fulham in their last match before the extended international break, with Sky Sports pundit and United fan Gary Neville describing one period of the match as one of the worst in all of his years watching the club.
Performances and results need to improve and quickly, and it would be no surprise if Carrick looks at making changes to the XI that started at Craven Cottage on September 20.
One of those could be a full debut for summer signing Carlos Baleba, who was on the bench in west London, and he could replace Kobbie Mainoo if the midfielder isn't deemed fit enough having withdrawn from international duty for England.
Meanwhile, there is a lot of clamour for changes to be made in the backline, and Leny Yoro may have forced his way into contention with an impressive debut performance for France in their 4-1 win against Belgium on Monday night, which saw manager Zinedine Zidane label him as 'great'.
Some United fans would probably prefer to see the young Frenchman in the XI ahead of either Harry Maguire or Lisandro Martinez, but there is another player Carrick must unleash against Spurs.
Carrick Ready to Unleash Amad Diallo on Saturday
As well as their defensive issues, United have had a problem in attack so far this season too.
Benjamin Sesko's injury issues have often meant that Matheus Cunha has been used as a makeshift striker, and he has looked nowhere near as threatening as when he played from the left for the Red Devils last term.
Bryan Mbeumo probably would have been the best choice for the centre-forward role in Sesko's absence, but he has been chosen as the preferred option on the right instead, with Amad Diallo yet to play a single minute of football this season after suffering an ankle injury in the summer.
However, Carrick hinted that the Ivory Coast international was closing in on a return before the international break, and he will have had a further three weeks to recover by the time United kick off against Tottenham.
The attacker's output actually came into question earlier this year, but at the time Carrick threw his weight behind the African star.
"I actually think he's playing well. I think, yeah, numbers in terms of goals and assists.... I think there's an awful lot more in the game, playing in a winning team as he has, to worry about numbers.
I think he gives the team so much. He's got so much talent, he's got so much ability, but his work ethic and his attitude is fantastic as well. He has played different roles at times. I'm a big fan of Amad.
The inclusion of Diallo in the XI again would solve a big issue for Carrick, with Sesko looking likely to miss the game, as he could play the 24-year-old on the right wing and Mbeumo in the centre.
It would then leave him with a decision to make on the left between Cunha and Marcus Rashford, who also pulled out of the England squad after picking up a knock against Fulham.
With everyone in more suitable positions again, if Diallo is fit enough to start, his return could prove to be the game-changer that Carrick desperately needs.