Honestly, if you’d told a United fan back in August that Michael Carrick would be standing in the Old Trafford dugout for a January Manchester derby, they’d have probably asked you which timeline you stumbled out of. Yet, here we are. The Ruben Amorim experiment hit a wall faster than anyone expected—basically ending after that 1-1 draw at Leeds—and now Carrick has 17 games to prove he’s more than just a safe pair of hands.
The epl manchester united fixtures for the rest of the 2025/26 season aren't just a list of games. They are a gauntlet. Currently sitting seventh, United are three points off the Champions League spots, and the schedule makers haven't exactly been kind for the winter months.
The January Gauntlet: City and Arsenal Back-to-Back
You’ve gotta feel for Carrick. His "welcome back" present is a Saturday lunchtime kickoff against Manchester City on January 17. City are chasing Arsenal for the title, and they’re coming off a ridiculous 10-1 win over Exeter in the cup. They’re angry. United, meanwhile, are trying to find an identity again after Darren Fletcher’s brief stint as the "bridge" manager.
Basically, the next two weeks look like this:
- Manchester City (H) – Saturday, Jan 17, 12:30 GMT
- Arsenal (A) – Sunday, Jan 25, 16:30 GMT
The Arsenal game is particularly scary. The Gunners are top of the league, and the Emirates has become a bit of a fortress. If United come out of these two with four points, Carrick will look like a genius. If they get zero? Well, the "interim" tag starts to feel very heavy, very quickly.
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Why the Manchester Derby is different this time
Pep Guardiola is dealing with a bit of a defensive crisis—Gvardiol, Dias, and Stones are all sidelined—which might give United’s front line a sniff. But with Rodri back in the middle for City, United’s midfield (likely Mainoo and Bruno) is going to have to run until their lungs burn.
February’s Schedule: No Room for Error
If January is about survival, February is where United have to actually start winning games if they want to see those Champions League nights again. The fixtures start to look a bit more "manageable," at least on paper, but we know how that usually goes at Old Trafford.
The February run:
- Fulham (H) – Sunday, Feb 1, 14:00 GMT
- Tottenham (H) – Saturday, Feb 7, 12:30 GMT
- West Ham (A) – Tuesday, Feb 10, 20:15 GMT
- Everton (A) – Monday, Feb 23, 20:00 GMT
- Crystal Palace (H) – Saturday, Feb 28, 15:00 GMT
The Spurs game on the 7th is a massive six-pointer. Both teams are fighting for that fourth spot. Honestly, the away trips to West Ham and Everton are the ones that worry me more. Cold Tuesday nights in East London and a Monday night at Goodison? Those are the games where United usually drop points and the fans start checking flight prices for the Europa Conference League instead of the Champions League.
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Injury News and Squad Depth
The good news for Carrick is that the medical room is finally starting to empty. Well, mostly. Matthijs de Ligt is still struggling with a back issue that’s kept him out since November. Carrick mentioned in his Friday presser that it’s been "slower than we thought," so don't expect him to start against City.
However, Bryan Mbeumo and Amad are back from AFCON. That’s huge. United have looked sort of toothless out wide lately, and having that spark back changes the dynamic. Noussair Mazraoui is still away with Morocco (they’re in the final), but he’ll be back for the Arsenal game.
Young Shea Lacey is suspended for the derby after a silly red card in the FA Cup defeat to Brighton, which is a shame because the kid has been a bright spot in a weird season.
The Midfield Problem
There’s a lot of talk about January transfers. Names like Adam Wharton and Elliot Anderson are being thrown around, but the reality is that United are looking at a "huge summer overhaul" rather than a winter spending spree. Carrick is basically told to make do with what he’s got. He knows these players, though. He’s worked with most of them before, and that rapport might be worth more than a panicked £40m signing on deadline day.
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Looking Ahead: The Run-In
If you're planning your life around epl manchester united fixtures, keep March 4 circled. That’s Newcastle away. St. James' Park is never fun, and if United are still in the hunt for top four by then, that match becomes a cup final.
Then you’ve got:
- Aston Villa (H) – March 14
- Bournemouth (A) – March 21
- Chelsea (A) – April 18
- Liverpool (H) – May 2
The Liverpool game at Old Trafford on May 2nd is the big one. It’s the third-to-last home game of the season. If the title race is still tight and the top-four race is a mess, that Saturday could be one of those classic, heart-attack-inducing afternoons.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're heading to the games or watching from home, here is what you need to keep in mind for the coming weeks:
- Check the TV slots: The Premier League just moved the Fulham and Arsenal games for Sky Sports. If you have tickets, double-check your travel because Sunday kickoffs are the new norm for United.
- Monitor the Midfield: Watch how Carrick sets up against City. If he sticks to a back four (unlike Amorim’s 3-4-2-1), it’s a sign he’s going back to basics to stabilize the defense.
- Fantasy Football Alert: With Mbeumo back from AFCON, he’s a low-cost high-reward pick for the February run-in, especially with home games against Fulham and Palace.
- Ticket Availability: The Manchester City and Spurs games are officially sold out on the club website, but hospitality packages are often the only way in this late in the day.
The Michael Carrick era has officially begun. It’s short, it’s high-stakes, and the schedule is relentless. By the time we hit the international break in March, we’ll know exactly if this was a genius move by the board or just another "interim" sticking plaster on a much bigger wound.