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Michael Carrick struck a defiant tone after Manchester United equalled their worst start to a Premier League season, but Sunday's woeful 1-1 draw at Fulham left the beleaguered boss under mounting pressure.Trailing to Lisandro Martinez's farcical own goal, United were just moments away from a third successive defeat on another dispiriting afternoon for Carrick.Matheus Cunha's deflected 89th minute equaliser spared United from fresh humiliation.But escaping with a barely-deserved point against a winless side sitting second-from-bottom of the Premier League was hardly cause for celebration.With only one win so far this season, United have matched their lowest points total after five matches in the Premier League era. SITTING IN 12TH PLACE WITH FIVE POINTSSitting in 12th place with five points, Carrick's men equalled the mark set by Louis van Gaal's United in 2014-15, when they went on to finish fourth.The statistics are damning enough in their own right but the eye-test during their moribund performance at Craven Cottage provided an even more insightful look at what ails United.Lacking a cutting edge in attack, bereft of defensive organisation and, in the words of Cunha, short of energy and drive until they fell behind, this was the kind of flawed display that has scarred so many United seasons since their last title in 2013.Carrick was expected to build on last season's climb to a third-place finish during his spell as interim boss.But having hauled United from the wreckage of Ruben Amorim's self-destructive reign, Carrick is in danger of losing his way in his first season as permanent boss.A wretched 2-0 defeat at promoted Hull on the opening weekend set alarm bells ringing among the United faithful.Beaten in the Manchester derby by an Erling Haaland goal that should have been disallowed last weekend, United then blew a two-goal lead at home for the first time in 50 years in a League Cup meltdown against Brighton.Already 10 points behind leaders City, Carrick's team were so underwhelming against Fulham that even one of the manager's former team-mates took a swipe at United. 'FINE MARGINS'Commenting on the match for Sky Sports, ex-United defender Gary Neville was scathing in his assessment of their performance at the start of the second half."I've watched Man United since the age of five and that's the worst 15 minutes I've ever seen. Absolutely pathetic," Neville said.The 51-year-old added: "I've never seen such a lack of effort. What must Carrick be thinking?"Carrick does not have the confrontational personality of some of his United predecessors, but he tried his best to quiet the noise as he searched for reasons for optimism."It's not been ideal. It was always going to come at some point and it's come at the start of the season," he said."On the other side of it, at Everton, a 25-yard shot, top corner for their equaliser. The City goal that's not a goal. Today, own-goal, that's one of them things."It's pretty fine margins that have flipped it. I know we can do better, we need to do better at certain things."But I'm not despondent because I think we've shown some good signs as well." CARRICK HAS THREE WEEKS TO SET THINGS RIGHTCarrick has three weeks to stew on United's miserable start during an extended international break.Questions about United's transfer policy and fitness regime are growing louder.The 45-year-old must come up with answers before they return to action with a crucial clash against bottom-of-the-table Tottenham on October 10.Losing to Roberto De Zerbi's side would be a huge blow to Carrick's hopes of turning the tide, especially with tricky trips to Atletico Madrid and Leeds looming after Tottenham visit Old Trafford.But Carrick is putting his faith in United's players absorbing the lessons from their painful start."You learn about each other, they learn about me, I learn about the individual and as a team, how we respond, what our reaction is," he said."That's part of growing as a group. You have to go through certain things to get to the end of it." 

Michael Carrick needs a win at Fulham to ease the mounting pressure on troubled Manchester United while Tottenham are desperate for their first Premier League goal of the season against fellow strugglers Aston Villa.At the top end of the table, Arsenal and Manchester City aim to maintain their perfect records going into the international break.Defiant Carrick confident of Man Utd revivalAs Carrick trudged towards the tunnel at Old Trafford after Manchester United's demoralising collapse against Brighton, the rumble of discontent grew louder with each footstep.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.The United manager acknowledged Wednesday's 3-2 loss to Brighton in the League Cup third round was unacceptable as he took responsibility for their third defeat in six games this season.But Carrick's willingness to shoulder the blame will not save him from even greater scrutiny and criticism if United lose at Fulham on Sunday.United have won just once in four league games and have lost their past two matches in all competitions.They cannot afford another setback against a Fulham side languishing in the relegation zone and who are yet to win in the league this season."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," Carrick said."It's all about what you do next and dealing with the moments, and the ups and downs."Marmoush wants Spurs to stick togetherWithout a win or even a goal in the league this season, Roberto De Zerbi's expensively rebuilt Tottenham are back in familiar territory.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.De Zerbi spent more than £300 million ($400 million) in the close season in a bid to ensure the north Londoners would be more competitive.Instead, they are once again marooned in 17th place, on just two points, ahead of Aston Villa's visit on Saturday.Beaten 3-1 at Liverpool 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.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.Trying to remain positive, Tottenham forward Omar Marmoush said: "These moments build the mentality and the team together. We are all one big family and we push together."Arsenal, Man City set the standardArsenal 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.Arsenal sit top of the table with four successive wins and City are just behind them on goal difference.It is little surprise to see the Gunners in pole position given their dominant march to the title last season.But City's early success is more eye-opening in the first campaign of the post-Pep Guardiola era.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."For sure the fans are happy and that's the only thing I care about," Maresca said.Arsenal, who travel to Brighton on Saturday and City, who host Sunderland on Sunday, will expect to maintain their blistering form heading into the international break. Fixtures (all times GMT):Saturday (1400 unless stated) Tottenham v Aston Villa (1130), Brighton v Arsenal, Everton v Ipswich, Newcastle v Hull, Nottingham Forest v Coventry (1630)Sunday (1300 unless stated) Bournemouth v Liverpool, Leeds v Crystal Palace, Manchester City v Sunderland, Fulham v Manchester United (1530) 

Tottenham interim boss Igor Tudor has admitted his struggling side are not fit enough as he pledged to "put some petrol in the engine" to avoid relegation.Tudor has arrived in north London with Tottenham embroiled in a battle to avoid playing in the second tier for the first time since 1977-78. Tottenham have won only two of their last 18 matches in the Premier League and sit just four points above the relegation zone ahead of today's trip to Fulham.Tudor, hired as a temporary replacement for the sacked Thomas Frank, knows his players' physical condition is a key to their hopes of beating the drop. Traditionally a coach who demands a high level of intensity, the Croatian conceded his squad haven't been able to match the required levels."Physically, I believe, we are not in an amazing situation," Tudor said. "They have played lots of games in the last period without lots of players available and it meant the physical condition of the team has dropped down. So, we need to use this period where we don't play the games to put some petrol in the engine so the engine starts to work better. They are fatigued. To do the pressing high you need to be fit, but all of them because if someone is not in the right shape, there is a problem because someone is coming late. For sure, we will improve and do these things better over time, but in this moment it's a big question what we can do and what we cannot do."Clips have already gone viral of Tudor getting Tottenham players to do runs in training in scenes reminiscent of pre-season. Given Tottenham's tendency to produce only one strong half of football in matches under Frank, their conditioning is not a new problem.Tudor pushed back at suggestions his methods may be too hard for them to cope with amid a gruelling season. "No, never punishing. That's the only way - running. The pitch is 100 yards. You say yards here, 100 yards, it's long, so you need to run," he said. "There are habits. Maybe you have habits to... I don't know... work a bit less? I put some runs without the ball. Players never like runs without the ball!" 

Manchester United remain without a Premier League win this season after being held 1-1 at Fulham Sunday, while a Jack Grealish-inspired Everton opened their new stadium with a 2-0 victory over Brighton.Ruben Amorim's United were left to rue Bruno Fernandes' wayward first-half penalty as they were pegged back at Craven Cottage.Rodrigo Muniz's own-goal put United in front on the hour mark, but Emile Smith Rowe came off the bench to rescue a point for Fulham.Amorim is seeking an upturn on a disastrous 15th-placed finish last season, but so far his new £200mn ($270mn) forward line of Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, who again started on the bench, is yet to fire.Despite an encouraging performance, United lost 1-0 to title-chasing Arsenal in their season opener last weekend and will feel another two points slipped away in west London.Fulham, though, felt the visitors got the better of two controversial calls.United's penalty was awarded after a VAR review for grappling by Calvin Bassey on Mason Mount.Fernandes is normally reliable from the spot, but blasted his effort high over the bar.When United did finally get their first goal of the season it came via a Fulham body as Muniz deflected Leny Yoro's header into his own net.However, the home side were furious that this time VAR did not intervene for a push by Yoro on Bassey.Fulham still managed to rescue a point when former Arsenal midfielder Smith Rowe's run into the box was not tracked and he turned in Alex Iwobi's cross 17 minutes from time.Everton's new eraAfter an emotional goodbye to Goodison Park, the club's home since 1892, Everton are hoping the move to a new 53,000 capacity stadium will rekindle their bygone glory days.Only four clubs have won more English top-flight titles than Everton's nine.However, they have not won a major trophy for 30 years and spent their final seasons at Goodison battling relegation."We're trying to find a way of moving the club on. I think this is a big step forward for Everton," said manager David Moyes.Grealish has so far been the marquee new addition to Moyes' squad and showed glimpses of the talent that saw Manchester City pay Aston Villa £100 million for him four years ago, providing the assist for both goals.Iliman Ndiaye scored the final goal at Goodison against Southampton in May and made more history with the first goal at Everton's new home.Grealish was the creator with a drilled left foot cross that Ndiaye timed his run perfectly to meet at the back post on 23 minutes.Brighton should not have come away from Merseyside empty-handed but wasted a series of chances.Kaoru Mitoma struck the bar and Jan Paul van Hecke's effort came back off the post, while Danny Welbeck spooned over with the goal gaping.James Garner doubled Everton's lead early in the second period with a blistering strike from Grealish's lay-off.Brighton still had the chance to set up a nervy finale, but Jordan Pickford saved Welbeck's poor penalty to round off a memorable afternoon for the Toffees.Nuno no goNottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo insisted he wants to remain in charge after his side's 1-1 draw at Crystal Palace.Callum Hudson-Odoi rescued a point for Forest after Ismaila Sarr's first-half opener for Palace.Nuno said on Friday his relationship with owner Evangelos Marinakis had deteriorated as odds on him being the first Premier League manager of the season to be sacked were slashed."That is nonsense. That does not make any kind of sense," said the Portuguese coach on whether he is trying to engineer an exit from the club.