# Carrick plays for his job against the man tipped to take it

Unai Emery, named as the leading candidate if United replace Michael Carrick, brings Villa to Old Trafford in the last match before an international break that gives the board its chance to decide. He has lost on all five of his visits there with Villa.

Preview · Premier League
Editorial board · 7 November 2026 · Updated 2026-11-08 15:35 UTC

- Manchester United v Aston Villa
- Kick-off: 2026-11-08 16:30 UTC
- Ground: Old Trafford
- Status: Under way 89′
- Score: Manchester United 2 – 4 Aston Villa

Forty years ago this week, Alex Ferguson took over a Manchester United side that were 19th with one win from nine league games. Michael Carrick marks the anniversary with a team that has also won one of its first nine, the club's worst start since that 1986-87 season, and sits 17th, clear of the relegation places only on goal difference.

The man in the other dugout on Sunday is the one named as the leading candidate if United move on from Carrick. Unai Emery spent the week closing that door: Villa announced a commitment to him beyond 2029, and he called his meeting with Nassef Sawiris "very positive, so let's talk next week". The two weeks of international break after this match are the board's chance to decide whether Carrick stays.

What Emery has never done is win at Old Trafford. "Four years I am here, travelling to Manchester to play against them, we have lost," he said on Friday, and his five visits with Villa have brought five defeats, the last 3-1 in March, when Casemiro, Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Šeško scored. Villa come this time unbeaten in five league matches, with two away wins in a row, and on 24 October two Nicolas Jackson goals beat Manchester City 2-1.

Šeško is out until the new year. Tuesday's 3-2 win over Roma, from two goals down, was United's first in ten matches and cost them Carlos Baleba to a hamstring injury for a number of weeks; Lisandro Martínez is suspended after his red card at Chelsea and Luke Shaw is not fit. "It's obviously a positive reaction, but it's not like all of a sudden we're getting carried away," Carrick said.

Old Trafford has given Carrick four points from four league matches this season. Emery's five defeats there are the strongest argument Carrick has left.

## Our call

An open match that Villa can shade on their league form, though not by much, in a game of few goals.

## Coming in

United beat Roma 3-2 in the Champions League on Tuesday but are 17th on seven points; Villa lost 3-0 at Barcelona the same night and are tenth on 12.

## Between them

United won the last meeting 3-1 at Old Trafford in March; Villa's 2-1 win at Villa Park in December 2025 is their only one in the last six.

## The hinge

Emery has lost all five of his visits to Old Trafford with Villa.

## Missing

Manchester United: Lisandro Martínez (red card), Carlos Baleba (hamstring), Benjamin Sesko (shin), Luke Shaw (injury), Manuel Ugarte (knee); doubtful: Marcus Rashford (hip), Patrick Dorgu (hamstring), Harry Maguire (fitness). Aston Villa: Matty Cash (yellow cards), Amadou Onana (injury), Matteo Ruggeri (injury); doubtful: Aaron Wan-Bissaka (fitness).

## Line-ups

Harry Maguire starts beside Leny Yoro and Bryan Mbeumo leads United's line, while Patrick Dorgu is only on the bench and Marcus Rashford is not in the squad. Emery starts Nicolas Jackson up front for Villa and leaves Aaron Wan-Bissaka out of his squad.