Gary Neville expressed concern over Manchester United's current position following their 1-1 draw against Leeds United. The pundit emphasized that if Michael Carrick's squad remains in 13th place come January, it could spell trouble for the head coach. Currently, United has only seven points from seven league matches, marking their fewest victories at this stage in 40 years.

Despite the draw extending their winless streak to six games, Neville noted improvements in United's performance, attributing this to Carrick's tactical adjustments that made the team more defensively solid. He described the match as a potential "stepping stone" for the team, suggesting that confidence could grow from this.

Key points from Neville's analysis include:

• Fourth place is an ambitious target, while fifth should be the minimum goal to secure Champions League qualification.
• Carrick must demonstrate improvement in upcoming matches, particularly against Bournemouth and Chelsea.
• The partnership between new signings Carlos Baleba and Andrey Santos could be vital for the team's success this season.

Neville believes maintaining a competitive squad is essential, warning that failing to finish in the top five could lead to a decline in quality and financial losses, making it harder to attract top players in the future. With significant fixtures ahead, the pressure is on Carrick to turn the season around.