Will Gasperini get Carrick sacked? Manchester United vs Roma prediction – 03.11.2026
On Tuesday, November 3, 2026, Manchester United will host Roma at Old Trafford in the fourth round of the UEFA Champions League league phase. Kick-off is scheduled for 20:00 GMT. The encounter promises to be particularly dramatic, as Michael Carrick is fighting to save his job following a disastrous run of results, while Gian Piero Gasperini's Roma arrive in Manchester with one of the most dangerous attacks in Italian football.
- Also read: Can Lorient break into the top six? Prediction for the match against Brest on November 2.
Manchester United: Carrick is running out of time
Manchester United are experiencing a genuine crisis. Their latest Premier League encounter ended in another disappointment, as the Red Devils suffered a 2-0 defeat away to Chelsea on October 31. That result extended their winless streak to nine matches across all competitions, consisting of three draws and six defeats.
The situation in the Premier League is particularly alarming. After nine rounds, United have collected just seven points and sit 17th in the standings, dangerously close to the relegation zone. For a club of this stature, such figures are nothing short of disastrous.
The defeat against Chelsea once again exposed the team's lack of consistency. United looked competitive during the first half and created promising opportunities, but everything unravelled after the break. Morgan Rogers opened the scoring, while Lisandro Martínez's dismissal allowed Cole Palmer to double Chelsea's advantage from the penalty spot.
Their Champions League campaign has hardly been more convincing. United began with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Sabah but subsequently lost 2-0 to Atlético Madrid and suffered a humiliating 4-1 defeat against Como. With just three points from their opening three European fixtures, Carrick's team have already put themselves in a difficult position.
Bruno Fernandes remains the team's primary creative force, while Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo possess the individual quality to trouble any defence. However, the biggest issue is not a shortage of talented players but United's inability to maintain tactical discipline, convert promising opportunities and respond effectively when matches turn against them.
Carrick has publicly expressed confidence that he will remain in charge for the Roma encounter. Nevertheless, another defeat at Old Trafford would inevitably increase the pressure on the English manager.
Roma: Gasperini has transformed the attack into a scoring machine
The contrast between the two teams could hardly be greater. While Manchester United continue to struggle, Roma have found an impressive attacking rhythm under Gian Piero Gasperini.
The Giallorossi produced another outstanding performance on October 31, defeating Udinese 5-2 away from home. The match was effectively decided during a remarkable first half, when Bryan Cristante, Rodrigo Mora, Donyell Malen and Evan Ndicka all found the net. Daniele Ghilardi added a fifth goal in stoppage time.
Roma have now scored 28 goals in their opening ten Serie A matches, setting a new club benchmark for attacking productivity at this stage of a league campaign. Their previous three domestic fixtures have produced an extraordinary 12 goals: a 3-3 draw against Napoli, a 4-2 victory over Cagliari and the latest triumph over Udinese.
The Italian side have also demonstrated their attacking capabilities in Europe. After drawing 1-1 against Fenerbahçe and narrowly losing 4-3 to Real Madrid, Gasperini's men demolished Slovan Bratislava 4-0 to collect their first Champions League victory of the season.
Donyell Malen provides the pace and finishing ability at the forefront of the attack, while Matías Soulé and Rodrigo Mora offer creativity between the lines. The energetic wing-backs and aggressive pressing system allow Roma to generate chances from multiple areas of the pitch.
However, the visitors are not without weaknesses. Conceding seven goals across their last three Serie A matches suggests that Gasperini's adventurous approach occasionally leaves significant space behind the defensive line. Against a team featuring Fernandes, Cunha and Mbeumo, those vulnerabilities could become costly.
Team news and possible lineups
Manchester United remain affected by injuries to Benjamin Šeško, Luke Shaw, Manuel Ugarte and Patrick Dorgu. Marcus Rashford's availability is uncertain, while Amad Diallo is also a doubt after suffering a physical problem against Chelsea. Lisandro Martínez's domestic red card does not automatically rule him out of this European fixture.
Roma face significant personnel problems of their own. First-choice goalkeeper Mile Svilar remains sidelined, with Pierluigi Gollini expected to continue between the posts. Paulo Dybala, Manu Koné and Lorenzo Pellegrini have also been dealing with injuries, although their final availability remains subject to assessment.
- Possible Manchester United lineup: Lammens; Yoro, Maguire, Martínez, Dalot; Andrey Santos, Baleba; Amad (if fit), Bruno Fernandes, Cunha; Mbeumo.
- Possible Roma lineup: Gollini; Ghilardi, Ndicka, Hermoso; Molina, Cristante, De Roon, Wesley; Soulé, Mora; Malen.
Match facts and head-to-head
- Manchester United are winless in nine consecutive matches across all competitions, recording three draws and six defeats.
- Roma have scored 12 goals in their last three Serie A matches.
- United have lost two of their opening three Champions League fixtures, while Roma have collected four points from three games.
- Roma have conceded seven goals across their last three domestic matches.
- Manchester United have won four of their six previous Champions League meetings with Roma, with one draw and one defeat.
The clubs last faced each other in the 2020/21 Europa League semi-finals. United secured a spectacular 6-2 victory at Old Trafford before Roma won the return leg 3-2, leaving the English side to progress 8-5 on aggregate.
Will Roma push Carrick closer to the exit? Manchester United vs Roma prediction
This encounter brings together two teams heading in completely different directions. Manchester United possess enough individual quality to challenge Roma, especially in front of their own supporters, but their recent performances offer very few reasons for optimism.
Carrick's players have repeatedly struggled to maintain their intensity throughout matches, and the team's defensive fragility could become a major problem against Gasperini's aggressive attacking system. Roma have scored freely in recent weeks, with Malen, Soulé and Mora capable of exploiting the spaces that United frequently leave between their defensive lines.
The Italian side are not particularly convincing defensively either, so a home goal would hardly be surprising. Nevertheless, Roma currently look considerably more confident, better organised in possession and far more effective in front of goal.
A draw remains a realistic possibility given United's home advantage and the visitors' defensive vulnerabilities. However, the overall balance of form strongly suggests that Gasperini's team are capable of leaving Old Trafford with at least one point, potentially delivering another painful blow to Carrick's position.
Prediction: Roma to win or draw (X2).
