Steven Gerrard has suggested Michael Carrick could face an uncertain future if Manchester United lose to Aston Villa on Sunday, describing the prospect of the manager surviving the international break as potentially 'tough'.
United ended a nine-match winless run in midweek with a comeback victory over Roma in the Champions League, but pressure remains on Carrick with the club sitting 17th in the Premier League and without a league win since late August.
Gerrard on the crucial league fixture
Speaking on TNT Sports, Gerrard said a win could shift the mood around the club.
'Sometimes a performance against a certain opposition in a certain way can give the board a little bit more belief a little bit more hope,' Gerrard said. 'Michael is having a tough time, and I think the next league game is crucial. I think if he can get that win, I think everyone will think this might be the few stepping stones for them to get into better form.'
He added: 'But everyone knows what a defeat [in] the last game before an international break could do. If you lose that on the back of not winning a nine in the league, I think it could be tough for him.'
Carrick not the 'biggest problem'
Speculation over a potential replacement has linked Unai Emery, Eddie Howe and Julian Nagelsmann with the role, but Gerrard argued Carrick is not the main issue at Old Trafford.
'They've had numerous managers in the last five or six years that haven't really been able to turn that fortune around,' he said. 'I think Mourinho came the closest finished second in the league and obviously won in Europe, so it's a difficult job at the moment because I don't think it's just a problem with the manager or the coach and stuff.'
'I think it's a group of players that have been really inconsistent that haven't given this club enough, and there's also a lot of problems from above as well. I said recently that Manchester United have got numerous problems not just one and I don't think Michael Carrick's the biggest problem there.'
