Sorry Tottenham slipped to defeat against relegation-threatened West Ham, further increasing the pressure on beleaguered boss Thomas Frank, while Liverpool were held to a 1-1 draw by lowly Burnley.
Carrick’s first game of his second temporary spell in charge of the Red Devils could barely have gone better in a dominant 2-0 win at Old Trafford.
The former United midfielder was appointed as head coach until the end of the campaign following the sacking of Ruben Amorim earlier this month.
The 44-year-old, who was also briefly United’s caretaker boss in 2021, said ahead of his first game that there was still “magic” at United, and his team put on a memorable show.
Second-half goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Patrick Dorgu capped an energetic and incisive display by United, who could have won by a far more comfortable margin.
“Great start. No getting away from that,” said Carrick. “The boys were fantastic.”
“Consistency is the key to any success,” he added. “If you could find that, then you’re onto a winner.”
Guardiola admitted that his team – winless in four league games this year – were outplayed by Carrick’s inspired United.
“The better team won,” said the City boss. “We weren’t at the level required to win this game.”
Arsenal are seven points clear at the top despite being held to a 0-0 draw for the second league game in a row at Nottingham Forest.
The mood at Tottenham darkened further after Spurs slipped to a 2-1 defeat against West Ham, who had not won a Premier League match since early November.
Spurs fans turned on Frank and chanted “you’re getting sacked in the morning” after Callum Wilson struck a stoppage-time winner.
Spurs, 14th in the table, have won just two home league games this season, leaving Frank, in his first campaign in charge, under enormous pressure.
“It’s tough to take, it hurts a lot,” the Spurs boss told Sky Sports. “The boys put everything in, and that’s a sign of a squad that is fighting, doing everything they can to try and win.”
Nuno Espirito Santo’s West Ham finished the day five points behind Forest, who are just above the relegation zone.
Defending champions Liverpool are now unbeaten in 12 games in all competitions but dropped two valuable points against struggling Burnley at Anfield.
Germany midfielder Florian Wirtz scored his third league goal since his arrival but the visitors drew level in the 65th minute when Marcus Edwards placed his shot beyond the reach of Alisson Becker.
“It feels like a defeat,” said Wirtz. “When we had so many shots and so many on target, I think we had to score more goals.
“But some days are like this – you try everything but in the end it doesn’t go in the goal.”
Chelsea boss Liam Rosenior, who replaced the departed Enzo Maresca earlier this month, watched as his side saw off high-flying London rivals Brentford 2-0.
Joao Pedro gave the Blues the lead in the first half and Cole Palmer doubled the advantage from the spot in the 76th minute.
Sunderland beat Crystal Palace 2-1 while Leeds scored late on to beat Fulham 1-0, remaining eight points clear of the relegation zone. (AFP)
