Manchester United's head coach Michael Carrick now accepts that four points from four games is below expectations, after initially pushing back on the idea that four points from three games wasn't a great start at Everton last weekend. One win, at home to newly-promoted Ipswich, means so many questions - around recruitment, team selection, substitutions, tactics and Carrick himself - will now start to be asked ahead of a huge week.
The defeat has raised questions about United's recruitment strategy, with the overall impact of their £155m summer spend limited. The introduction of Netherlands forward Joshua Zirkzee for Marcus Rashford seven minutes from time as one of only two United substitutes, gave a strong indication the overall depth in Carrick's squad is not at the level required. Bruno Fernandes, the only outfield player who has played in every minute of the club's first five games, has seen his overall impact seem to have dipped, with some observers feeling he looked tired against City.
United entertain Brighton in the Carabao Cup on 16 September, before a trip to Fulham four days later. If nothing else, Carrick needs his side to deliver to prevent a new three-week international break being filled with external inquests around what is going wrong at Old Trafford.