The Red Devils are the Premier League team with the most points in the 2026 calendar year
The red side of Manchester is celebrating. After a disastrous season and a half under Ruben Amorim, Manchester United is back to its best under Michael Carrick and has already accumulated 18 points in 2026, the most points of any team ahead of Manchester City and Arsenal.
The victory on February 23 against Everton is the sixth in the last seven games and the fifth in six Premier League games. During this good run of results, the Manchester team has won against the two contenders for the English first division title, Manchester City and Arsenal, as well as against Spurs and, most recently, a narrow away victory against Everton.
This good run of results has put the club back in the fight for Champions League places, with the Red Devils currently sitting in fourth place in the Premier League table. United’s last defeat came in the third round of the FA Cup on January 11, and their last league defeat was on December 21, 2025.
The English coach and former club player has given the team a facelift, including the return of academy player Kobie Mainoo and a more conventional lineup, reverting to a four-man defense and returning star and captain Bruno Fernandes to his preferred position of attacking midfielder.
In addition to changes in the lineup, Manchester United’s style of play has also undergone a significant change since the arrival of the new coach.
Under Ruben Amorim, although the formation was the same for every game, the game plan itself was unpredictable. Sometimes, the Red Devils would opt for high pressure, and in the next game they would line up with a low midfield block. In offensive phases, the club used to look for width on the wings, which was sometimes impossible due to the abilities of the players occupying these positions.
With Michael Carrick, Manchester United take to the field with a midfield block, waiting for the opponent closer to their goal, looking to steal the ball in their own half or in midfield and launch counterattacks with Mbeumo, Diallo, Cunha, and Sesko, players who are very lethal in open play due to their speed and intelligence when moving around the field.
Even tough the changes seem to be paying off, we´ll have to wait and see in the long term whether Michael Carrick deserves the trust of the board and is the right man to take charge of Manchester United for next season.