Manchester United started the 2026-27 Premier League season with more hope than they had in recent years.

Michael Carrick had guided the team to third place last season. United also qualified for the Champions League. The club then gave Carrick a permanent contract.

United also made changes to their midfield and added more attacking options.

So, there was real hope that the team could improve again this season.

But five league games into the new campaign, United have only five points. They currently sit 12th in the Premier League.

Their poor start has raised questions about their intensity, midfield, attack and summer signings.

So, what has actually gone wrong at Manchester United?

Manchester United 2026-27 Premier League start

United have played five league games so far. They have won one, drawn two and lost two.

Their results are:

Hull City 2-0 Manchester United — Loss

Manchester United 5-2 Ipswich Town — Win

Everton 2-2 Manchester United — Draw

Manchester United 0-1 Manchester City — Loss

Fulham 1-1 Manchester United — Draw

United have five points from a possible 15.

They have scored eight goals and conceded eight.

The 12th-place position is not the only concern. Some of United’s performances have also looked poor.

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Expectations were higher before the season

United were not expected to start this badly.

Carrick changed the mood around the club after he took charge in January last season.

United picked up more points than any other Premier League team from Carrick’s appointment until the end of the season. They finished third with 71 points and returned to the Champions League.

That run naturally raised expectations for the new season.

Before the season started, Opta’s supercomputer gave United a most likely finish of third. The model also gave them a 33.1% chance of finishing in the top four.

Champions League qualification was seen as an important target.

That makes the current start disappointing compared with those expectations.

However, United were not clear title favourites. The team was still rebuilding, and the squad still had several areas that needed work.

United tried to improve their midfield

Midfield was one of the main areas United wanted to improve.

The club brought in Youri Tielemans from Aston Villa and Andrey Santos from Chelsea.

United also added Benjamin Sesko to strengthen the attack. The club had already signed Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo the previous summer.

The plan was simple.

United wanted more quality in midfield. They also wanted more control and more attacking options.

But the midfield has not given Carrick the improvement he wanted so far.

The Fulham game showed this problem clearly. United struggled to control the match for long periods.

Fulham also covered 6.6 kilometres more than United during the game.

That difference showed how much more energy Fulham put into the match.

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Intensity is becoming a major concern

This may be United’s biggest problem right now.

Reuters reported data from GeniusIQ that showed United at 20th in the Premier League in several high-intensity running categories.

These numbers included distance covered at high intensity, time spent at high intensity, total sprints, and sprinting time.

The Fulham game gave another example.

United eventually scored through Matheus Cunha in the 89th minute. But before that, they struggled to match Fulham’s energy, especially in the second half.

Cunha said the team needed to give more. He also pointed out that United often improve after they concede a goal.

Carrick did not agree with the idea that his players lack physical fitness.

That means the problem may not have one simple answer.

United may need to improve both their tactical approach and the way they play with and without the ball.

Some important players have also struggled

Several players were expected to make a bigger impact this season.

Matheus Cunha joined United as an important attacking player. But he has not scored a league goal in his opening four starts, according to analysis published after the Manchester City game.

He has also looked less comfortable when Carrick uses him as the No. 9. Cunha can have a bigger influence when he plays deeper and gets more freedom.

Check the latest updates on Manchester United FC on their official website HERE.

Marcus Rashford has also struggled to make a regular impact.

He has started three league games without scoring. He also missed chances during the draw against Fulham.

That has created more questions about his role in the team.

Youri Tielemans was supposed to help United control the midfield. However, he has not yet shown the same influence he had at Aston Villa.

United again struggled to control midfield against Fulham.

There have also been some positive performances.

Bruno Fernandes has scored three league goals. Bryan Mbeumo has scored two.

Benjamin Sesko has also shown promise. He scored against Everton, although he has not yet become a regular league starter.

So, what is actually going wrong?

The biggest problem seems to be United’s lack of control during games.

United can score goals, as the 5-2 win over Ipswich showed.

But they can also become passive when the opposition takes control.

The Hull defeat was an early warning.

United had plenty of possession in that game, but they did not create enough danger.

The Manchester City game created another concern.

City went down to 10 men after Phil Foden received a red card. Even then, United struggled to create clear chances.

The Guardian reported that United produced less than 1.0 expected goals in that match.

So, the problem is not only about finishing chances.

United need to play with more intensity. They need better control in midfield. They also need a clearer attacking plan.

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Can Carrick fix the problems?

There is still plenty of time.

United have played only five of their 38 league games.

The international break also gives Carrick time to work on the team’s physical and tactical problems.

United’s next league game will be interesting.

They will face Tottenham Hotspur at Old Trafford on October 10.

After that, United play Leeds United away, Bournemouth at home and Chelsea away.

These games could give us a better idea of whether United are simply having a bad start or whether they have deeper problems.

Carrick may not need another major rebuild right away.

First, he needs his current players to perform closer to the level expected from them.

Starting Sesko more often could give United a natural No. 9.

Finding the right midfield combination could help the team control games.

Improving their intensity without the ball could also fix one of the biggest weaknesses shown by the early-season data.

What happens next for Manchester United?

The current situation is a concern, but five games are still a very small part of a 38-game season.

The bigger question is whether United can turn their talented players into a consistent team.

Last season showed that Carrick could improve the squad.

Now, he needs to show that United can keep improving.

For now, the table shows 12th place and five points.

The performances also show that United have several problems to solve.

The next few weeks will show whether Manchester United can fix those problems before they fall further behind the teams above them.

What do you think? Can Manchester United fix these problems before their poor start becomes a bigger issue this season? Let us know in the comments. 

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