Manchester United finished a matchday inside the Premier League's relegation zone for the first time in 40 years, according to প্রথম আলো. The drop followed Nottingham Forest's 3-1 win over Manchester City on Saturday night, a result that pushed Forest above United in the table and left Michael Carrick's side in 18th place.
United have seven points from nine league matches. Forest, who had gone three league games without a win, now sit 16th on nine points.
Why it matters
The milestone is uncomfortable for England's most decorated club. According to প্রথম আলো, the last time United ended a day in the relegation places after playing at least nine top-flight matches was November 1986, when they were 21st in a 22-team league after 15 games.
That earlier slump led to the dismissal of manager Ron Atkinson, who was replaced by Sir Alex Ferguson. প্রথম আলো notes that Carrick now faces similar speculation about his position.
The result also underlined how much United's fortunes have shifted. Supporters of the club would normally take little pleasure in a City defeat, but this one hurt them directly because it lifted a direct rival in the table.
Forest's win does the damage
প্রথম আলো reports that Forest's victory mattered more to United's position than City's loss itself. Forest had been near the bottom of the table before the match and climbed to 16th with the three points, moving three places above United.
City, the reigning champions, were beaten 3-1 at home. Several Bangladeshi outlets covered the match, with bdnews24.com describing City as "directionless" in defeat and Jugantor reporting it as City's third straight loss, a run that has helped Arsenal tighten its hold on top spot.
United's own form offers little comfort. Their last league win came on 30 August, a 5-2 home victory over Ipswich Town. They have not won since.
According to প্রথম আলো, this is the club's worst start to a Premier League season in its history, and its poorest opening across all competitions in 40 years.
Pressure builds before Villa trip
United's position could worsen before they next take the field. প্রথম আলো reports that if Sunderland beat Chelsea and Crystal Palace avoid defeat against Liverpool on Sunday, United would fall to 20th — bottom of the table — before their match against Aston Villa.
Sunderland currently have five points and sit 20th, while Palace have seven and are 19th.
Carrick's team will travel to Villa Park with the table already decided for the weekend. A defeat there, combined with results elsewhere, would deepen the club's early-season crisis.
The coming days will show whether the United hierarchy sticks with Carrick or turns to the kind of mid-season change it made four decades ago.
