Man Utd and Tottenham under pressure as extended international break approaches

[p]At the top end of the table, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/arsenal/hA1Zm19f/"]Arsenal[/a] and [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-city/Wtn9Stg0/"]Manchester City[/a] aim to maintain their perfect records going into the international break.[/p][p][i][b]AFP Sport [/b][/i]looks at three talking points ahead of this weekend's action:[/p][h2]Defiant Carrick confident of Man Utd revival[/h2][p]As Carrick trudged towards the tunnel at Old Trafford after [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/manchester-united/ppjDR086/"]Manchester United[/a]'s demoralising collapse against [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/brighton/2XrRecc3/"]Brighton[/a], the rumble of discontent grew louder with each footstep.[/p][p][b]United had just lost a home game after holding a two-goal lead for the first time in 50 years, and fans at the Stretford End were venting their frustration, with jeers and abuse aimed at Carrick and his players.[/b][/p][p]The United manager acknowledged that Wednesday's 3-2 loss to Brighton in the League Cup third round was unacceptable and took responsibility for their third defeat in six games this season.[/p][p]But Carrick's willingness to shoulder the blame will not save him from even greater scrutiny and criticism [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/fulham-69ZiU2Om/manchester-utd-ppjDR086/?mid=vq6T9aFr"]if United lose at Fulham on Sunday.[/a][/p][p]United have won just once in four league games and have lost their past two matches in all competitions.[/p][image alt="Premier League table" id="9c378c80-bbb8-40e5-b4cc-94399c409a33" credit-line="Flashscore" guid="dedde945-88d3-4c3b-8e98-1c29ae793639" original-width="2160" original-height="3842" /][p]They cannot afford another setback against a [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/fulham/69ZiU2Om/"]Fulham[/a] side languishing in the relegation zone and who are yet to win in the league this season.[/p][p][b]"Of course we can turn it around. We've got some really good players and it feels bad at the moment because we haven't had a great week, or two or three weeks,"[/b] Carrick said.[/p][p][b]"It's all about what you do next and dealing with the moments, and the ups and downs."[/b][/p][h2]Marmoush wants Spurs to stick together[/h2][p]Without a win or even a goal in the league this season, Roberto De Zerbi's expensively rebuilt [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/tottenham/UDg08Ohm/"]Tottenham[/a] are back in familiar territory.[/p][p]Spurs have finished one place above the relegation zone in each of the past two seasons - narrowly avoiding the dreaded drop on the final day of the 2025/26 campaign.[/p][p][b]De Zerbi spent more than £300 million in the close season in a bid to ensure the north Londoners would be more competitive.[/b][/p][p]Instead, they are once again marooned in 17th place, on just two points, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/aston-villa-W00wmLO0/tottenham-UDg08Ohm/?mid=4Sl9Mxal"]ahead of Aston Villa's visit on Saturday.[/a][/p][embed guid="3f7e0cec-f3c6-4a79-af3a-b7e6fceba7aa" url="https://x.com/SpursOfficial/status/2100253544704086342" social-type="twitter" /][p]Beaten 3-1 at [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/team/liverpool/lId4TMwf/"]Liverpool[/a] in the League Cup third round in midweek, Tottenham have already shown the anxious, error-strewn form that condemned them to a relegation battle last season.[/p][p]Losing to Villa - who have made an even worse start, with only one point from four games - would leave Spurs with a sinking feeling again.[/p][p]Trying to remain positive, Tottenham forward [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/player/marmoush-omar/44pYRYIC/"]Omar Marmoush[/a] said: [b]"These moments build the mentality and the team together. We are all one big family and we push together."[/b][/p][h2]Arsenal, Man City set the standard[/h2][p]Arsenal have made a perfect start to their bid for the club's first back-to-back titles since the 1930s, with Manchester City emerging as their main rivals after their own flawless run.[/p][p]Arsenal sit top of the table with four successive wins and City are just behind them on goal difference.[/p][p]It is little surprise to see the Gunners in pole position given their dominant march to the title last season.[/p][p]But City's early success is more eye-opening in the first campaign of the post-Pep Guardiola era.[/p][p]Guardiola's successor Enzo Maresca bolstered his approval rating among City fans by masterminding a 1-0 win at Manchester United last weekend, decided by a goal that should have been ruled out for offside.[/p][p][b]"For sure the fans are happy and that's the only thing I care about,"[/b] Maresca said.[/p][p][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/arsenal-hA1Zm19f/brighton-2XrRecc3/?mid=j52jHsN8"]Arsenal, who travel to Brighton on Saturday[/a] and City, [a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/game/soccer/manchester-city-Wtn9Stg0/sunderland-WSzc94ws/?mid=fZCq6HE7"]who host Sunderland on Sunday[/a], will expect to maintain their blistering form heading into the international break.[/p][h2][a href="https://www.flashscore.ca/soccer/england/premier-league/"]Follow the Premier League with Flashscore[/a][/h2][infobox id="02b45e73-9abc-454d-882a-650a1a621f7d" /]