Michael Carrick’s interim head coach run could be the perfect springboard for his permanent appointment as Manchester United manager if four key results end up going his way.
The Red Devils are fourth in the Premier League table and only a narrow margin – a single point – separates them from fifth-place Chelsea after 26 matches so far.
Manchester United were catapulted into the top-four picture in the first place after the scintillating start that Michael Carrick made to his interim head coach reign.
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Carrick, who returned to Old Trafford last month, engineered United’s wins over Manchester City and Arsenal in January and Tottenham and Fulham in February.
The 44-year-old United legend’s momentum took a slight hit only last Tuesday evening after the Red Devils rescued a point from their 1-1 draw against West Ham.
With Carrick enjoying a fairy-tale start as interim head coach, United In Focus takes a closer look at four fixtures that could alter his long-term future at the club.
1. Man Utd vs Newcastle United at St James’ Park on 4th March 2026
Manchester United travel to Goodison Park on 23rd February to face Everton before returning to Old Trafford on 1st March to host Crystal Palace in the Premier League.
But Newcastle are lurking around the corner and a visit to St James’ Park could prove to be another major test for Red Devils interim head coach Michael Carrick.
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Eddie Howe’s men are pushing for a place in the top six and the stakes are even higher amid the Red Devils’ pursuit of a top-four finish in the 2025-26 season.
The Red Devils could find their visit to St James’ Park presents the same problems as Man Utd’s 1-1 draw against West Ham if Carrick’s tactics are not on point.
2. Man Utd vs Aston Villa at Old Trafford on 15th March 2026
Only 11 days after the visit to St James’ Park, the Red Devils will play their only Premier League match at Old Trafford in the month of March.
The return to Old Trafford will be another huge challenge for Carrick, with fellow top-four rivals Aston Villa visiting the Theatre of Dreams on 15th March.
Villa are five points clear of United in the Premier League table and are sitting in third place, but the top-four picture could look entirely different when the two sides meet.
Carrick will be well aware of the threat that Unai Emery’s men could pose and United will need a standout display to clinch all three important Premier League points.
3. Chelsea vs Man Utd at Stamford Bridge on 18th April 2026
Man Utd might have beaten Premier League title challengers Manchester City and Arsenal under Carrick, but a resurgent Chelsea are now lying in wait in April.
Liam Rosenior, much like Carrick has done at United, has sparked a turnaround at Chelsea after the Premier League club sacked Enzo Maresca in January.
Ruben Amorim deserves ___ % credit for Michael Carrick’s BRILLIANT start at Man Utd
Fill in the blank. Did Amorim lay the foundation for success at Old Trafford?
Chelsea are United’s biggest threat for the fourth-place spot in the Premier League table and the Red Devils will visit Stamford Bridge on 18th April for a huge clash.
Depending on how results play out for the Blues and the Red Devils, the April Premier League showdown could be a defining moment for the top-four picture.
4. Man Utd vs Liverpool at Old Trafford on 2nd May
If Carrick’s scintillating run did end with the Red Devils climbing back into the Champions League for next season, there is no better way to do it than picking up a win against Liverpool along the way.
Liverpool are one of Man Utd’s final four matches in Carrick’s interim spell and the defending Premier League champions have had a woeful title defence this season.
Ruben Amorim already claimed bragging rights over the Reds earlier in the campaign, with United sealing a 2-1 win over Liverpool at Anfield last October.
Fast-forward to May and an emphatic performance and result over Liverpool could be the final thing to push Carrick into becoming Ruben Amorim’s permanent successor at Man Utd.
Just like Chelsea in April, the Premier League showdown could play a major role in Carrick’s challenge for the United managerial role and the Red Devils’ top-four ambitions.
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