Manchester United cannot afford a repeat of their opening-day performance when Ipswich Town arrive at Old Trafford on Sunday.
Michael Carrick‘s side produced 21 shots in the 2-0 defeat at Hull City, but generated only 1.83 expected goals and repeatedly struggled to create high-quality opportunities against a compact defence. Sixteen of those attempts were worth less than 0.1 xG individually.
Carrick has rejected suggestions that United’s defeat demonstrated a lack of passion or leadership, describing such criticism as “lazy and easy”.
The problems were more specific than that.
Here are five areas United must improve against Ipswich.
1. Man Utd need better chances, not simply more shots
Twenty-one attempts looks respectable.
The underlying numbers tell a different story.
The Guardian’s analysis of the Hull defeat highlighted how frequently United were forced into low-value efforts, with Hull’s defensive structure protecting the most dangerous central areas.
United averaged approximately 0.087 xG per attempt.
Carrick therefore does not need his side to shoot more against Ipswich. He needs them getting closer to goal before doing it.
Better combinations around the box and more runners attacking central spaces should be the priority.
2. Carrick must find an answer to another compact defence
Hull were comfortable allowing United plenty of possession.
Their five-man defensive structure reduced the space available between and behind the lines, taking away many of the transitional situations in which Carrick’s team normally look most threatening.
Ipswich will have watched that.
United cannot expect another promoted side to arrive at Old Trafford and leave large spaces for Bryan Mbeumo, Marcus Rashford or Matheus Cunha to attack.
Carrick needs his team to move the ball faster and manipulate the opposition shape rather than simply circulating possession in front of it.
That could become one of the defining tactical questions of United’s season.
3. Bruno Fernandes needs to influence the dangerous areas
United cannot have Bruno Fernandes continually dropping deeper simply to help progression.
The captain remains their most productive creative player and is far more dangerous receiving the ball around the penalty area than collecting it close to his own midfielders.
Carrick defended Fernandes’ leadership after the reaction to Hull and insisted one defeat should not lead to sweeping conclusions about his team.
But tactically United still need to put their captain in better positions.
If the midfield can progress possession without Fernandes repeatedly coming towards the ball, United should gain another player between Ipswich’s midfield and defence.
4. Mainoo gives Carrick a midfield decision
Youri Tielemans and Andrey Santos struggled to impose themselves sufficiently at Hull.
Carlos Baleba would offer Carrick another athletic option, but the £70million signing will miss Ipswich with an ankle injury.
That puts Kobbie Mainoo firmly into the selection discussion.
The midfielder is pushing for a place after sitting out the starting XI at Hull, while Mason Mount has also returned to training. The Standard reports that both are in contention for Sunday’s game.
Carrick does not necessarily need wholesale changes after one defeat.
He does, however, need a midfield capable of controlling the game without forcing Fernandes backwards to solve the build-up himself.
5. United need a clearer focal point in attack
Benjamin Sesko‘s fitness has complicated Carrick’s attacking decisions.
The striker is available but has still been building towards full sharpness after his pre-season shin problem.
If he is not ready to start, Carrick must decide how best to structure the front three around Cunha, Mbeumo and potentially Rashford.
Rashford is pushing for his first start since returning to the first-team picture, while Amad remains unavailable.
Whatever combination Carrick chooses, United need somebody consistently occupying Ipswich’s central defenders.
The Hull performance too often left United attacking around the opposition rather than through them.
Sunday provides an immediate opportunity to show that Carrick has found solutions.
United remain strong favourites at Old Trafford, but another performance dominated by possession without penetration would raise much more uncomfortable questions heading into the international break.
Supporters can find the Man Utd vs Ipswich kick-off time, TV channel and streaming information here.
