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In his latest Sky Sports column, Paul Merson believes this is a big week for Michael Carrick as Manchester United head coach after a poor run of form.

United have failed to win five out of their last six games in all competitions - the latest being Saturday's 1-1 draw with 10-man Tottenham, who scored a late equaliser through Dominic Solanke.

Carrick's side now face a huge week with two tricky away trips to Atletico Madrid in the Champions League on Tuesday night, then a trip to high-flying Leeds United who just lost their unbeaten record to reigning champions Arsenal on Saturday.

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Read below for the Magic Man's thoughts about a big week for Carrick and United...

'I haven't seen signs of improvement at Man Utd'

After Saturday's game, I'd more worried if you're a Man Utd fan. I've seen signs with Tottenham that things can improve, there's something there. I haven't seen any signs with Man Utd at the moment.

Now, Michael Carrick is in trouble over the next two games. I hope he doesn't get the sack, but he's in trouble.

It's a nightmare week for him. I couldn't think of two worse games - and I don't think they're going to win either of them.

Atletico Madrid, at their ground, it's a difficult game. They're hard to beat, a very difficult team to play against and beat. They don't let in a lot of goals.

Then you go to Leeds, who's one of Man Utd's champion enemies. This is a big, big, big football match. A big rivalry. And it's one of Leeds' biggest games.

And if you're a Leeds fan, after the weekend, you'd be shocked if Man Utd beat them at Elland Road. Every Leeds fan would be disappointed if they didn't get a result against Man Utd this weekend.

Now that's a big swing in football. How many times have we said that about Leeds vs Man utd games? And it tells you everything you need to know about Man Utd.

I've always said the same thing about Carrick. When they were playing well last season and he got them into the Champions League, everyone was saying: give him the job, give him the job.

But what I wanted to see was how he'd react when they go three or four games without a win.

It's alright when you're winning every week. You're all in, you're on a crest of a wave. Ask any manager, it's easy when you're rolling.

But how was Carrick going to handle the pressure? What was he going to do differently? We're seeing that now. It doesn't seem like he is coming up with the ideas to get out of it.

If he was like this last season, he wouldn't have got the United job permanently. But now he's got the contract.

United should have gone for Unai Emery. They should have done whatever they could to get someone like him. Someone with major experience, who has been around the block. This is a hard job.

Now, who else is going to come in? Eddie Howe is probably the man they'd go for. He's the only one about isn't he?

Antonio Conte could go in, he'd steady the ship. But I don't know if he wants to play entertaining football and set the world alight. I don't know what the Man Utd owners want.

'Spurs needed to get a proper centre forward in the summer;

Tottenham played well at Old Trafford. They dominated, but just don't look like scoring a goal at the moment.

They did great with 10 men to come back and finally get an equaliser which they deserved.

They only thing they probably could have done with - and what they should have done - is they had to get a centre forward.

They went out of their way for a few players, did a bit of this and that. I like Sandro Tonali, I'm a big fan of this. But they had to get a centre forward.

Dominic Solanke is better than alright. But he's not yet an actual goalscorer. When Spurs robbed United of the ball in the first half and he goes through on goal, you don't sit there and go: 'goal'. You just don't.

And Omar Marmoush isn't going to give you goals. He'll get you're a worldie here or there, but he's not a goalscorer. They needed a goalscorer. I can't believe Spurs didn't go for Nicolas Jackson. He's decent.

The problem with Spurs at the moment is that they're not scoring. There's never a wrong time to score - every time is the right time - but they're failing to find the net when they're on top.

They could go to Coventry on Monday Night Football, score an early goal and kick on to win 3-0 or 4-0. That could be the result that kick-starts their season."

But I've seen them plenty of times this season and they've played well - but only for 20 to 25 minutes. They need to turn that into 90.

But you have to say fair play to them for coming back at United when they're having the season they're having, they're down to ten men, dominated the game and gone 1-0 down.

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It is the clip that everyone is talking about on social media. By Monday morning, there had been three million views of a video showing Spurs passing through the Man Utd press and breaking up the pitch with ease.

The 10-second clip has become a lightning rod for fan frustrations.

United's return of six points from six Premier League games is the fewest they have gained at this stage of a season in 40 years - and right now, every shortcoming is being heavily scrutinised.

But what does the clip, and other similar instances in the game, reveal about Manchester United?

Breaking down the viral clip

The clip occurs in the 57th minute. The score is 0-0. Jan Paul van Hecke has the ball in the Spurs penalty area after receiving a short goal-kick from centre-back partner Marco Senesi.

Six United players have stepped up and gone man-to-man to deploy a high press. But their four defenders are back on the halfway line, leaving a big gap between the United defence and midfield.

Crucially, United's left winger, Matheus Cunha, is stood too far away from Spurs right-back Archie Gray. Van Hecke is closed down but is able to make a straightforward pass into Gray's path. Gray is already on the charge into the space in front of United's defence.

With one pass out of their own penalty area, Spurs have left six United players trailing behind the ball. Carrick can be seen gesturing to Cunha to chase back - but Gray is away.

Gray is able to carry the ball all the way to United's defensive third where he plays a square pass to the unmarked Conor Gallagher. United's central midfielders, Youri Tielemans and Kobbie Mainoo, are running back but can't make up the ground in time.

"If you look at Tielemans and Mainoo getting back here, the two in midfield chasing back, it's a real struggle for them," says Sky Sports' Gary Neville on co-commentary.

Gallagher shuttles the ball onto Spurs left winger Savio, who takes a touch and then sees his shot blocked out for a corner by Leny Yoro.

The wider problems it reflects

The clip comes in the context of United already suffering criticism this season for their fitness, intensity out of possession and compactness.

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"When you come back from the World Cup, you don't do lots of running. Just chill." That was the quote from Tielemans to Rio Ferdinand in pre-season when he was asked about training under Carrick in preparation for the upcoming campaign.

It has been repeatedly referenced in these opening weeks given United have been out-run in every Premier League fixture so far, aside from the Manchester derby, when Man City had Phil Foden sent off in the first half.

Cunha himself said after the draw at Fulham before the international break: "They put in more energy than us, we cannot accept this."

Neville was scathing of that showing from United and on Saturday he was critical of the Tielemans-Mainoo partnership being energetic enough for the Premier League.

Summer signing Carlos Baleba, who has seen his start at the club disrupted by injury, came on as a substitute for Tielemans after United defended two Spurs corners which followed the viral clip. Could he provide the solution now he is returning to fitness?

Perhaps - but the answer surely also requires a more joined-up approach from United's players out of possession which does not require a player to cover huge areas of grass on their own to prevent teams gaining huge territory as quickly and easily as Spurs did on Saturday.

Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher warned this worrying trend would come home to roost unless addressed quickly.

"It is very early in the season and we have been here before with Manchester United with different managers," Carragher said on Monday Night Football. "They are getting questioned in terms of how ready they are physically and mentally going into these big games.

"Now they have three big games - two are away in the Champions League and also away at Leeds in the Premier League. If they don't up their intensity very quickly, this could get very messy for all involved."

Udogie spots space early on

While one clip went viral, there are other examples of United's defensive set-up being stretched.

Just 12 minutes into the match, Spurs had their first goal-kick. Again they went short, with Senesi passing to goalkeeper Antonin Kinsky. Left-back Destiny Udogie was quickly on the run, realising Amad Diallo had given him space and was looking the other way.

It was a near-identical situation to the Gray incident which would happen later in the match. But on this occasion, Senesi turns back and declines to make the pass out to Udogie, who had raced into space behind the United midfield.

United's front six disconnect from the rest

The viral clip was not the only occasion when United allowed a huge gap to open up between their defence and the rest of the team.

Seven minutes before Gray is released, Bruno Fernandes closes down Kinsky to prevent him from passing to Van Hecke. But the plan from Spurs is there and so is the opportunity provided by the big space behind Tielemans and Mainoo.

Cunha with his hands on his knees

United's Cunha looks like he is blowing a minute before the viral incident, when Kinsky opts to go long.

Fatigue could be a factor in United being unable to effectively deploy their man-to-man high press - especially considering that Cunha gives Gray too much space soon after this screenshot, which allows Spurs to break up the pitch.

Baleba makes up the ground just in time

Into the 87th minute, and with United 1-0 up there is more caution in Cunha's positioning. The Brazilian is deeper than in previous set-ups for Spurs goal-kicks and is able to deny Van Hecke the option of playing a similar pass for Gray as previously.

However, five other United players have pushed up on their opponents - leaving that space in behind them again. Remember, United have a one-goal lead against 10 men with less than four minutes of normal time remaining.

Fortunately, United have Baleba on the pitch, who has spotted the passing option for Van Hecke...

Baleba charges across the pitch to make the interception just in time.

United scrambled to survive on that occasion. But ultimately they did concede an injury-time equaliser - fuelling more scrutiny of United's approach and performances this season.

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Cam Little kicked a 57-yard field goal as time expired to give the Jacksonville Jaguars a 19-17 win over the Philadelphia Eagles in a miraculous ending at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Jaguars quarterback Trevor Lawrence threw a 27-yard touchdown to Parker Washington on fourth down with under four minutes remaining to give them a 16-14 lead, and when they forced the Eagles to punt with two minutes left, the win looked all but secure.

But when Jalen Hurts led the Eagles 32 yards downfield in nine plays to set up a Jake Elliott 48-yard field goal with 12 seconds to go, the Eagles-heavy crowd celebrated what appeared to be a 17-16 Philadelphia win in London.

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However, those 12 seconds were enough for Ameer Abdullah to stun the stadium with a 53-yard kickoff return, before Little hit the game-winner as time expired.

The Jags move to 4-1 on the season and look every part the Super Bowl contender after a supreme performance from Lawrence.

Meanwhile after a turbulent season so far filled with injuries and disappointment, the Eagles fall to 2-3.

More to follow...

Stats leaders:

Philadelphia Eagles

Passing: Jalen Hurts, 21 of 40 for 220 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT

Rushing: Dameon Pierce: 11 carries, 14 yards

Receiving: Darius Cooper: 2 catches, 71 yards

Jacksonville Jaguars

Passing: Trevor Lawrence, 24 of 39 for 331 yards, 2 TDs, 1 INT

Rushing: Bhayshul Tuten: 22 carries, 72 yards

Receiving: Parker Washington: 6 catches, 124 yards, 2 TDs

The NFL's final game in London this year is next Sunday, October 18 at Wembley as the Jags host their division rival Houston Texans.

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Tottenham rescued an unlikely point at Manchester United after fighting back to draw 1-1 with 10 men - but their search for a Premier League win extends into another unwelcome week.

The point at least lifts Spurs off the foot of the table, but Roberto De Zerbi's side remain marooned in the relegation zone, without a league victory since May.

Their predicament can be summed up by three cases of extreme wastefulness and one of ill-discipline, with Dominic Solanke particularly guilty of spurning the chances that might have seen his side take a comfortable first-half lead.

Instead, it was Bryan Mbeumo who broke the deadlock in the 73rd minute, combining with Matheus Cunha in the box and turning smartly to guide a clinical finish across Antonin Kinsky.

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Spurs spent most of the game in the ascendancy but were hurtling towards their fourth loss of an already chaotic campaign, made worse by a moment of madness from Rodrigo Bentancur, who saw red for a headbutt motion towards Luke Shaw five minutes after the goal. The incident sparked a touchline brawl between both benches.

As emotions ran high, De Zerbi's mission looked hopeless. But Spurs did not give up, and were rewarded with a leveller in stoppage time when Solanke glanced a header past a static Senne Lammens.

Neither manager is likely to be satisfied with the outcome.

Man Utd were booed off the pitch at half time and full time, stuck in the midst of their worst start to a season for 40 years. Spurs' plight, meanwhile, is arguably more damning still. After the points were shared, it's perhaps a result that leaves more questions than answers for both.

The key moments from Old Trafford...

Carrick with soul-searching to do after 'worrying' performance

Sky Sports' Gary Neville:

"Tottenham deserved a point. That was a really important moment for Solanke. He'd missed some big chances and was captain for the first time.

"They were the better team by far. If they'd left without a point, it would have been terrible for them.

"Michael Carrick is left with a lot to think about. It was a worrying day in terms of the level of performance and a big week ahead."

Man Utd devoid of structure and ideas

Sky Sports' Jamie Redknapp:

"I do not see enough connections in that midfield and they look devoid of any confidence, ideas, or patterns of play, playing out the back.

"Tottenham were just much better than them in every department, but that is a theme this season.

"Their energy levels are not good enough and they look loose going forward; there was no real structure.

"The squad is not good or strong enough and Michael [Carrick] needs help in that respect."

Carrick admits Man Utd were 'off it'

Man Utd boss Michael Carrick:

"We couldn't find a way to get ourselves into the game. With the ball, without the ball, we were off it.

"I'm not happy with the amount of points, I'm not hiding from that. We need to put things in a positive direction quickly.

"We have to be more streetwise and stubborn in the moment. It doesn't change my belief, or confidence in the players. We can be a really good team.

"We don't want to start games like that, it was challenging. They worked through it, got themselves in a good position, and couldn't see the game out. That's the most disappointing thing.

"I don't feel let down bty players making mistakes but we've all got to help each other be better."

De Zerbi pleased with different Spurs character

Spurs boss Roberto de Zerbi:

"We did not deserve to lose, for sure. Today, for the first time we showed we're a team. We played for team-mates, stayed inside of the game in every situation. We attack and defend as a team.

"Suffer together. We have to find the balance between confidence, and to be hungry in training and in games.

"For a long time Tottenham played without this character, now I'm the coach, I want to see this character every week. With the quality, with character, the right energy, I think we're going to win many games and score many goals."

Story of the match in stats

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What the result means and next fixtures...

"We couldn't find a way to get ourselves into the game. With the ball, without the ball, we were off it." A fair assessment from Michael Carrick, if not a wholly explanatory one.

Stuck in the mire of Manchester United's worst start to a league season for 40 years, the manager appeared lost for legitimate reasons. His margin for error is shrinking by the week.

Why were his side outplayed at home by the Premier League's bottom club? Why can't they hold onto leads? Why do they seem incapable of playing against 10 men?

All of these are fair questions to put to the man himself and many were asked of Carrick in the wake of Saturday's 1-1 draw with Spurs. None were answered with enough detail to satisfy, though, only really serving to hold a mirror up to what was delivered on the pitch: inadequacy.

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Clearly the manager can only accept so much of the blame. His players are yet to offer a single complete performance, only bit-part displays of individualism and self-direction. Where is the cohesiveness that shaped the backend of last year? What happened to the clarity that transformed a broken season into a third-place finish?

Fans who turn up to Old Trafford every week are back to being unsure. They do not know what to expect from one game to the next, only how to voice their dissatisfaction at what transpires. Three separate choruses of boos could be heard from the terraces on Saturday.

"I think the fans will stay with the project," reflected Gary Neville from Old Trafford. "I don't think the boos are against Michael Carrick for one minute. But what I would say is, they're turning quite quickly."

When United needed a calm voice to steer the ship at the beginning of this year, they turned to a man whose entire playing career was built on it. That version of Manchester United feels far removed from the side that have begun this season, though.

In midfield is where the problems are most evident. And yet, that is the department that received the biggest injection of cash this summer, a complete overhaul in terms of personnel and profiles. The Kobbie Mainoo-Youri Tielemans axis is not working. Andrey Santos is barely getting a look in.

Hopes that Carlos Baleba can hit the ground running after an injury-hit start were audible; his introduction after an hour lifted the whole stadium. Almost every touch was positive and he took care of the ball, completing 16 of 18 passes and creating as many chances as Bruno Fernandes managed all game (2).

Still, the space and freedom with which Spurs operated presents issues that cannot be solved by one midfielder. United were carved open time after time, gaps appearing in a myriad of ways. The visitors were able to win possession in the final third five times in the first half alone.

Five of United's work-shy starters did not go away for international duty over the break.

And it was not just the aggressiveness of Spurs' press that was effective. They picked holes in United with the ball, too, using slick one-touch combinations to move through the thirds at pace. No need to go around, just steamroll straight through.

Savio attempted a remarkable 10 dribbles. He only completed half but the recurrence was evidence of his belief that United could be got at. The kind of passiveness any direct winger loves.

Then there are concerns over the mentality of a side who repeatedly fail to beat 10 men. Yet again, United were outrun and outpaced - this time by a team who played with a man less for 21 minutes, including stoppage time.

"If we're ahead in the game, we have to see it out," says Carrick. That much is obvious. What is less clear is how some of these patterns of missteps are going to be addressed.

"Football is character," concluded opposition boss Roberto De Zerbi. United are lacking exactly that. They must summon some resolve from somewhere, or risk being eaten up by the competition. Because if the last few weeks have taught us anything, it's that the Premier League is in no mood to be doling out sympathy.

Man Utd's next five fixtures

Four of Man Utd's next five games are away from home, including their next three.

Oct 13: Atletico Madrid vs Man Utd, Champions League

Oct 18: Leeds vs Man Utd, Premier League, live on Sky Sports

Oct 21: Como vs Man Utd, Champions League

Oct 25: Man Utd vs Bournemouth, Premier League, live on Sky Sports

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