<p>Manchester United have hired former player Michael Carrick as their head coach until the end of the season &#8211; but what does this mean for Fantasy Premier League (FPL)?</p>
<p>We take a look at their <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a>, Carrick&#8217;s expected tactics and how that will affect certain players, plus an update on their Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) absentees.</p>
<h3>🤖 Hub AI quick summary 🤖</h3>
<p>Simplicity and speed are among Fantasy Football Hub&#8217;s core values, so many of our articles this season will come with a quick &#8216;Hub AI&#8217; summary for those who want the answer &#8211; fast.</p>
<p>Read the full article for the detailed picture &#8211; and listen to an audio summary 👇</p>
<ul>
<li>🧑‍🏫Michael Carrick mostly used a 4-2-3-1 formation during his spell at Middlesbrough</li>
<li>🤔One of United&#8217;s key attackers might have to start on the bench if Carrick uses this formation</li>
<li>📅United&#8217;s next two fixtures provide an opportunity to monitor how things develop</li>
</ul>

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<h2>How bad has Manchester United&#8217;s season actually been?</h2>
<p>United are seventh in the league table, three points behind fourth-placed Liverpool.</p>
<p>They remain well in the race for the Champions League spots, which could be the <a href="https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/articles/cgk8yz68ynlo">top five</a> again if English teams continue to perform well in Europe this season.</p>
<p>Off-the-pitch tensions were reportedly central to Ruben Amorim leaving the club, although disappointing draws with West Ham, Wolves and Burnley in recent weeks &#8211; plus defeats in both domestic cups &#8211; have frustrated fans.</p>
<p>Statistically, United&#8217;s attack has been the strongest part of their game.</p>
<p>The Red Devils&#8217; expected goals (xG) of 37.75 is second best in the league, while their actual record of 36 goals scored is much more in line with the data than in previous seasons, where they have struggled to convert chances.</p>
<p><a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/predictions">Hub AI</a> rates United&#8217;s attacking options highly, with <strong>Bruno Fernandes </strong>and <strong>Matheus Cunha </strong>in the top five midfielders for predicted points over the next few weeks.</p>
<div id="attachment_77017" style="width: 850px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-77017" class="size-full wp-image-77017" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Top10Teams-xg1-bordered.jpeg" alt="Team expected goals (xG) this season" width="840" height="690" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Top10Teams-xg1-bordered.jpeg 840w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Top10Teams-xg1-bordered-300x246.jpeg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Top10Teams-xg1-bordered-768x631.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px" /><p id="caption-attachment-77017" class="wp-caption-text">Team expected goals (xG) this season</p></div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>It&#8217;s less encouraging defensively, despite their expected goals conceded (xGC) of 25.9 being sixth best.</p>
<p>United have under-performed in this regard, letting in 32 goals and keeping just two clean sheets &#8211; West Ham and Wolves are the only sides to have managed fewer shutouts.</p>
<p>Defensive tactics &#8211; as underlined here by the Athletic&#8217;s <a href="https://x.com/Jon_Mackenzie/status/2010767903180595429">Jon Mackenzie</a> &#8211; should be one of Carrick&#8217;s priorities to address.</p>
<div id="attachment_77018" style="width: 850px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-77018" class="size-full wp-image-77018" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Clean-sheets-bottom-half.jpeg" alt="The worst teams for clean sheets this season" width="840" height="690" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Clean-sheets-bottom-half.jpeg 840w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Clean-sheets-bottom-half-300x246.jpeg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Clean-sheets-bottom-half-768x631.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px" /><p id="caption-attachment-77018" class="wp-caption-text">The worst teams for clean sheets this season</p></div>
<h2>What style will Manchester United play under Carrick?</h2>
<p>After retiring from playing, Carrick worked at the club as a coach under both Jose Mourinho and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.</p>
<p>He took charge for three games after Solskjaer left in 2021, with wins over Villarreal and Arsenal.</p>
<p>But much of his managerial experience came at Championship club Middlesbrough between 2022 and 2025.</p>
<p>A 4-2-3-1 shape was his go-to formation, with changes while in possession as is often the case in modern-day football.</p>
<p>At Middlesbrough, the left-back pushed forward as a winger and the left-winger moved inside &#8211; potentially a role that would suit Cunha.</p>
<p>And while managers can tweak their tactics to adapt to new squads, playing with a back four instead of an Amorim-style back three looks highly likely.</p>
<div id="attachment_76709" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-76709" class="size-full wp-image-76709" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GettyImages-2229934284-1.jpg" alt="Matheus Cunha could suit Michael Carrick's system. Picture by Getty Images" width="1024" height="683" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GettyImages-2229934284-1.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GettyImages-2229934284-1-300x200.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/GettyImages-2229934284-1-768x512.jpg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-76709" class="wp-caption-text">Matheus Cunha could suit Michael Carrick&#8217;s system. Picture by Getty Images</p></div>
<h2>What are the key things to know from an FPL perspective?</h2>
<p>The position of <strong>Bruno Fernandes </strong>will be a critical piece of the puzzle for fantasy managers.</p>
<p>The Portuguese playmaker&#8217;s deeper midfield role under Amorim has not held him back as much as is often claimed &#8211; he leads his teammates for expected goal involvements (xGI) and FPL points.</p>
<p>But should he return to a more familiar number 10 role, this will have a knock-on effect on United&#8217;s other attackers.</p>
<p>The formation change should increase midfielder <strong>Kobbie Mainoo&#8217;s </strong>minutes but Fernandes in the 10 would leave just three places for <strong>Bryan Mbeumo</strong>, <strong>Amad</strong>, <strong>Matheus Cunha </strong>and <strong>Benjamin Sesko </strong>&#8211; unless Carrick fancies Amad as an unconventional right-back.</p>
<p>Monitoring how Carrick&#8217;s United look over the next few games could therefore be wise.</p>
<div id="attachment_77035" style="width: 850px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-77035" class="size-full wp-image-77035" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Fernandes-gw1-21.jpeg" alt="Bruno Fernandes's stats" width="840" height="690" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Fernandes-gw1-21.jpeg 840w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Fernandes-gw1-21-300x246.jpeg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Fernandes-gw1-21-768x631.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px" /><p id="caption-attachment-77035" class="wp-caption-text">Bruno Fernandes&#8217;s <a href="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/opta/" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c="1" title="FPL Stats by OPTA - Player and Team Stats">stats</a></p></div>
<h2>When are Manchester United&#8217;s AFCON players due back?</h2>
<p>Carrick&#8217;s selection headaches could start immediately but it&#8217;s a problem he will welcome, given the importance of the international absentees.</p>
<p>Mbeumo and Amad&#8217;s nations were eliminated in the Africa Cup of Nations quarter-finals on Friday and Saturday respectively.</p>
<p>Both should be available for Gameweek 22 but keep an eye on our <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/premier-league-predicted-lineups">team news and predicted lineups</a> article for the latest updates later this week.</p>
<p>Only defender <strong>Noussair Mazraoui </strong>is still at the tournament, with Morocco&#8217;s semi-final on Wednesday (January 14).</p>
<div id="attachment_77036" style="width: 850px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-77036" class="size-full wp-image-77036" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Mbeumo-v-Amad.jpeg" alt="Bryan Mbuemo v Amad" width="840" height="690" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Mbeumo-v-Amad.jpeg 840w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Mbeumo-v-Amad-300x246.jpeg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Mbeumo-v-Amad-768x631.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 840px) 100vw, 840px" /><p id="caption-attachment-77036" class="wp-caption-text">Bryan Mbuemo v Amad</p></div>
<h2>How strong are Manchester United&#8217;s upcoming fixtures?</h2>
<p>United rank bottom of the Hub&#8217;s <a href="https://www.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/fixture-ticker">fixture ticker</a> over the next two gameweeks, with Manchester City (H) and Arsenal (A) up next.</p>
<p>Their run improves after that. They rank fifth between Gameweek 24 and 28, with three home games in five.</p>
<p>The next two gameweeks therefore provide a perfect excuse to wait and see how things unfold, although <strong>Bruno Fernandes </strong>is arguably a good bet regardless having returned from injury.</p>
<div id="attachment_77037" style="width: 1034px" class="wp-caption aligncenter"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" aria-describedby="caption-attachment-77037" class="size-large wp-image-77037" src="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Fixtures-gw24-28-1024x311.jpg" alt="Fixtures for Gameweek 24-28" width="1024" height="311" srcset="https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Fixtures-gw24-28-1024x311.jpg 1024w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Fixtures-gw24-28-300x91.jpg 300w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Fixtures-gw24-28-768x233.jpg 768w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Fixtures-gw24-28-1080x327.jpg 1080w, https://cms.fantasyfootballhub.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/Fixtures-gw24-28.jpg 1451w" sizes="(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px" /><p id="caption-attachment-77037" class="wp-caption-text">Fixtures for Gameweek 24-28</p></div>
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Manchester United FPL tips: Carrick tactics, AFCON returnees, minutes risks?

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