Former Arsenal midfielder and football pundit Paul Merson has predicted that Manchester United could be in the Premier League relegation zone by December, following the club’s continued poor performances under head coach Michael Carrick.

Merson made the prediction in his latest football analysis, following United’s 2-0 defeat to Chelsea on Saturday, which left them fourth from bottom, with goal difference separating them from the relegation zone.

The former England international said he would be surprised if United were not among the bottom three by December 5, when they are scheduled to face Coventry City.

However, he ruled out the possibility of relegation, insisting that the club’s current position was far below the standards expected of Manchester United.

Merson argued that Carrick was facing circumstances largely beyond his control, adding that the club’s leadership should take responsibility for decisions that had left the squad poorly balanced.

He also warned that the club’s hierarchy could face increasing criticism from supporters if results continued to deteriorate, particularly because Carrick remained popular among fans.

The pundit criticised United’s recruitment strategy, saying the club prioritised strengthening its attacking options before adequately addressing other areas of the team.

He questioned whether new forwards Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko could consistently deliver the goals expected of players at a club of United’s stature.

Merson also expressed concerns about the midfield, questioning the decision to spend £50m on Andre Santos and arguing that the team lacked the physical presence needed to support players such as Youri Tielemans.

He said Brighton midfielder Carlos Baleba, who had been brought into a struggling side, was being expected to solve problems that required broader squad improvements.

On the defensive situation, Merson criticised the club for postponing plans to strengthen the backline until the next transfer window, describing the recruitment strategy as an attempt to build a house on unstable foundations.

He further criticised defender Lisandro Martinez following his red card against Chelsea, claiming the Argentine would not have played again for Manchester United under former manager Sir Alex Ferguson.

United have now gone nine matches without a victory across all competitions, their worst such run since 1984. Their only league victories this season have come against Ipswich Town and Sabah.

Carrick’s side face a demanding run of fixtures, including matches against Roma, Aston Villa, Liverpool, Sporting, Brentford, Newcastle, Coventry City and RB Leipzig.

Despite his criticism, Merson said he did not expect United to be relegated, but maintained that the club needed to address its recruitment and squad balance to improve its performances.