Man Utd's six points from six lowest since 1986-87 as 10-man Spurs draw 1-1 late

After six rounds of the Premier League, two traditional powers are under scrutiny: Manchester United were held to a 1-1 draw at home by 10-man Tottenham with a stoppage-time equaliser, leaving them on six points from six league games — their lowest at this stage since 1986-87; Spurs, despite taking a point, are still winless in six and remain in the relegation zone. In Scotland, Hibernian's new manager Marink Reedijk lost his first match 0-1 to Dundee United, leaving them 10th, while in the transfer market AC Milan, Bayern Munich, Liverpool and Chelsea continued to line up targets.

Old Trafford: Mbeumo scores, Solanke rescues Spurs in stoppage time

The Manchester United-Tottenham match ended with an almost absurd script. Mbeumo's goal put the hosts ahead, but in a fierce 78th-minute clash, Tottenham substitute midfielder Bentancur was sent off by referee Atwell for headbutting Luke Shaw. The 10-man Spurs instead played with the courage De Zerbi wanted, and in the second minute of stoppage time, Solanke outmuscled Lisandro Martinez in the box to head home, with goalkeeper Lammens unable to read the deft touch as the ball crept in at the far corner to make it 1-1.^[3][6] Notably, this was the second successive home league game in which United failed to beat opponents who had a player sent off: four weeks ago against Manchester City, Foden was sent off in the 23rd minute for kicking out at Bruno Fernandes, and City needed an incorrect VAR decision to win that game.^[3]

Carrick under pressure: closer to relegation zone than Champions League places

The draw leaves United's start looking stark. After six league games, the club has only six points, their lowest at this stage since 1986-87, when Ferguson's side had four points from the first six. United have failed to win five of their six games (three draws, two defeats), already matching the number of winless games from Carrick's 17 league matches in charge last season. More awkwardly, the two points from their last two games came against opponents who started the day bottom of the Premier League, and United are now closer to the relegation zone than to the Champions League places on points.^[3] Former United captain Gary Neville said on Sky Sports that it was 'a worrying day for Michael Carrick'. United have publicly expressed support for Carrick several times in recent weeks, but the comparisons are not flattering: two years ago, Ten Hag came under pressure after winning only two of nine games in all competitions and was sacked after a 27 October away defeat to West Ham; last season, Amorim lost trust after being knocked out of the League Cup by League Two side Grimsby and a 3-1 away defeat to Brentford on 27 September, and was dismissed on 5 January. United next travel to Leeds United on 18 October, with tough Champions League away games against Atletico Madrid and Como on either side.^[3]

Spurs still winless as De Zerbi 'kisses' sent-off Bentancur

Spurs are in a similarly difficult position. Solanke's 92nd-minute goal earned only one point, leaving the club on three points after six games and still in the relegation zone, without a win in their opening six. This is the fourth time in the club's history they have failed to win any of their first six league games, after 2008-09, 1955-56 and 1912-13. Their attacking struggles are especially clear: Spurs have scored only three goals this season, more than only 19th-placed Coventry.^[6] After the match, De Zerbi gave an unusual assessment of Bentancur's red card: 'I kissed Rodrigo and thanked him.' He called the red card a player's 'mistake' but stressed that with 10 men the team played with more courage and energy, and that 'for a long time, Spurs have lacked that fight, that character'. The Italian even said he 'liked' the reaction the red card brought — not encouraging fouls, but the team finally no longer accepting defeat.^[6][4] De Zerbi also acknowledged it was the first time this season he had seen the team play 'as a unit'. To turn things around, the club has arranged a warm-weather winter training camp, with the team expected to travel to Marbella, Spain, on Sunday. In the summer transfer window, Spurs spent more than £250m on 10 players, and the contrast between results and investment is the biggest question right now.^[6]

Hibernian: Reedijk loses debut 1-0 as old attacking problems persist

Last month, Marink Reedijk replaced David Gray as Hibernian manager. He had just led Beveren to an unbeaten Belgian second-tier title last season, but Scottish football gave him a defeat by way of welcome. Away to Dundee United, Daniel Bennie bundled the ball into the net on 35 minutes for the only goal of the game; late on, on-loan Manchester United midfielder Jacob Devaney was sent off for denying Neil Farrugia a goalscoring opportunity, forcing Hibs to play the final stages with 10 men.^[1][2] After the match, Reedijk highlighted that 2,500 fans had travelled from Edinburgh, saying 'the most frustrating thing is that we could not give them what they wanted'. He switched to a back four, unlike predecessor Gray's preference for a back three, but the attacking efficiency did not improve — this was the team's fourth game this season without scoring. The stats also told the story: Dundee United had 17 shots, 10 of them inside the Hibernian box, with an expected goals value of 1.68. The defeat left Hibernian 10th in the Scottish Premiership, and Reedijk summed up the problem as 'a lack of precision and hesitation when entering the final third', stressing that change takes time.^[1]

Transfer market: Milan, Bayern, Liverpool and Chelsea among clubs with targets

Sunday's transfer gossip focused on young players. AC Milan are looking at Bournemouth's 23-year-old England midfielder Alex Scott, and their interest remains despite his rising value. Bayern Munich have held fresh talks with Manchester United's 16-year-old attacking midfielder JJ Gabriel but have not made a formal offer, with a feeling that the youngster is leaning towards a move to Spain, where Barcelona and Real Madrid are favourites.^[5] Porto have raised the release clause in the contract of 20-year-old Brazil forward William Gomes to 100m euros (about £85m) amid Liverpool's pursuit; Liverpool are also interested in Barcelona's France full-back Jules Kounde, with the La Liga side willing to accept an offer of about £60m. Chelsea still want to sign Monaco's 22-year-old midfielder Lamine Camara but will not pay the Ligue 1 club's 70m euro (about £59m) asking price. In addition, Manchester City tried to sign 17-year-old USA forward Mathis Albert from Borussia Dortmund in the summer.^[5]

Summary: turbulent starts and the battle for youth

Taken together, the main line is clear: early-season turbulence is intensifying pressure on managers, with Manchester United and Tottenham, two established clubs, struggling in the lower half of the table, while Hibernian's change of manager has not immediately stopped their attacking inefficiency; at the same time, transfer-market attention continues to focus on players aged 16 to 20, with Bayern, Barcelona, Real Madrid, Liverpool and Manchester City all chasing unpolished prospects, while release clauses and asking prices keep rising. What to watch next: how United's 18 October away game at Leeds affects Carrick's position; whether Spurs' camp in Marbella improves an attack that has scored only three goals in six games; whether Reedijk can get Hibernian scoring again in the coming Scottish Premiership matches; and whether these transfer rumours turn into concrete offers before the next window.