Carrick will be given the chance to rescue the situation, but needs results fast and will have the added stress of co-owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe being in attendance today. The scrutiny on Chelsea counterpart Xabi Alonso is nowhere near as severe, though he too will be eager to bounce back quickly after the Blues’ winning momentum was halted by a rare home defeat by rivals Tottenham and Carabao Cup penalty heartbreak at Liverpool.
