Manchester United Plunge Deeper Into Crisis as Manchester City's Shadow Looms Over Premier League

Manchester United travel to Leeds United next, with the pressure mounting ever more heavily on manager Michael Carrick. Meanwhile, Manchester City are chasing another extension of their perfect Premier League start despite the uncertainty surrounding the club's future.

Brighton could be one of the biggest beneficiaries if City are hit with a heavy punishment for breaching Premier League financial rules. The Seagulls are flying high, just two points behind second-placed Arsenal, ahead of a tense derby with Crystal Palace on Sunday.

Martinez speaks out after United's worst start in 40 years

United are enduring their worst start to a season in 40 years and sank further into turmoil after defender Lisandro Martinez criticised the club's hierarchy over a lack of investment following Tuesday's 0-2 defeat to Atletico Madrid.

The Argentine targeted technical director Jason Wilcox after the Red Devils added only three midfielders in the transfer window. Yet Martinez himself has been one of those most responsible for the team's poor start, playing a part in the goals conceded against Fulham and Tottenham in recent weeks.

United have won just one of their opening six Premier League games and were also knocked out of the League Cup by Brighton last month. Leeds last beat the Red Devils at Elland Road in 2002, but inflicted the only home defeat of Carrick's interim spell last season when the sides met in April.

Carrick is increasingly at risk of becoming the latest manager unable to turn around the decline at Old Trafford since Alex Ferguson retired in 2013. However, he believes the hostile atmosphere awaiting his side is the perfect opportunity to bounce back.

"What a game on Sunday to prepare for. It's a great game for us, for the club, for the history, for the fans," Carrick said. "Everything about this game is fantastic, so we'll be ready."

Martinez later apologised for his remarks.

City charges leave Premier League hanging

Manchester City sit top of the table with six wins from six, but it could all count for nothing if they fail to overturn a guilty verdict on more than 100 charges of breaching Premier League rules.

Enzo Maresca's side shrugged off the distractions to win 3-0 at Liverpool last weekend and produced an impressive second-half response despite losing 2-4 to Paris Saint-Germain in a dramatic Champions League tie on Tuesday. But the uncertainty over their future has left the entire league hanging.

City deny any wrongdoing, and the case, which began eight years ago, still has at least several months to run before the appeal is heard and any potential punishment is announced.

"My core thought is that none of this is good for football and nobody wins," former England manager Gareth Southgate said.

City could extend their lead at the top to six points when Ipswich visit the Etihad on Saturday. Arsenal do not play until 24 hours later at Nottingham Forest. The English football authority said after City's appeal that it expects an outcome before January.

Brighton 'ruthless' in push for Champions League

Arsenal's only defeat this season was a 0-3 loss to Brighton, a club on a remarkable rise that could reach new heights this season while other traditional giants struggle.

Brighton have climbed through the divisions and reached Europe thanks to owner Tony Bloom's data-analysis expertise. Yet they have never played in the Champions League.

Despite regularly selling prized assets to wealthier clubs, smart recruitment of both players and managers has kept Brighton progressing. That has also made them a neutral's favourite, but manager Fabian Hurzeler wants his side to show a nasty streak against Palace on Sunday.

"We want to be ruthless. We want to create an atmosphere full of energy where coming here becomes incredibly difficult," Hurzeler said. "We have to keep building this with the fans and no longer be a nice football club."