Man Utd lurching towards crisis as Man City cloud hangs over Premier League

Manchester United face Leeds United on Sunday with mounting pressure on manager Michael Carrick, while Manchester City seeks to extend their perfect Premier League start despite uncertainty over their future. Brighton could benefit if City face severe sanctions for violating financial rules. The Seagulls are currently just two points behind second-placed Arsenal ahead of their grudge match against Crystal Palace.

At this weekend's English top flight action, United are enduring their worst league start in 40 years, following a 2-0 loss to Atletico Madrid. In the buildup to the match, defender Lisandro Martinez targeted the club's hierarchy over investment in the squad, after most of the summer's transfer business focused on midfielders. The Argentine's actions have contributed to United's poor campaign, with only one win in their first six league games.

Brighton, on the other hand, have shown remarkable progress, climbing through the divisions and securing a Champions League spot, thanks to owner Tony Bloom's savvy use of data analytics and smart recruitment. The team is determined to show their "ruthless" side against Crystal Palace on Sunday.