Manchester United Predictions for 2026-27 Season
Manchester United step into the 2026-27 season with something they haven’t carried in years: a genuine sense of upward movement under Michael Carrick. The interim surge that dragged them to third last term has earned him the job full-time. Now comes the hard part — proving it wasn’t just a bounce.
The new campaign truly begins for Carrick’s side on Saturday lunchtime at the MKM Stadium against Hull City. By then, the predictions will already be flying. In fact, several Old Trafford greats have nailed theirs to the mast.
Foster backs repeat of top-four finish
Ben Foster has seen enough to believe last season was no fluke. The former United goalkeeper, who correctly called a top-four finish for 2025-26, expects Carrick’s men to be right back in that mix.
“All right. It’s Arsenal, then it’s Chelsea, then it’s Man United, then it’s Liverpool,” he said on the Fozcast podcast, slotting United into third again.
He doubled down on that order, adding: “Arsenal, Chelsea, Man United, Liverpool. We will see come the end of the season, lads.”
No title talk. No wild leap. Just steady faith that United will hold their ground among the elite.
Butt goes bolder: United to finish second
Nicky Butt is more bullish. The former United and England midfielder sees a bigger step coming under Carrick.
Asked for his top four on The Good, The Bad & The Football podcast, he replied: “Liverpool, City, Man United, Arsenal.”
Butt later clarified his thinking: “So, I do think, obviously, we’re all agreeing with Arsenal [being top], but I think Man United will come second.”
The order might sound contradictory, but the message is clear enough: Butt expects United to be serious contenders near the summit and believes Carrick can push them beyond last season’s third-place finish.
Scholes urges caution over title credentials
Paul Scholes isn’t ready to join that optimism. Another pillar of the ‘Class of ‘92’, he’s keeping United in the Champions League spots, but only just above where they were.
“United [in third place] for me,” he said on The Good, The Bad & The Football show.
His concern is blunt and specific.
“I still think they’ve got a lot of work to do to… I think they need to strengthen. Now, look, possibly they could do better, but I just don’t think the centre-halves are good enough.”
Scholes sees promise, but he also sees a ceiling — one that won’t move unless the spine of Carrick’s team improves.
Owen predicts step back to fifth
Michael Owen is the first of the ex-Reds to push United out of the top four entirely. On The Good, The Bad & The Football show, the former United and Liverpool striker laid out his 2026-27 table and parked Carrick’s side in fifth.
No elaborate caveats. Just a firm belief that others will edge them out over 38 games.
For a club that has just fought its way back into the Champions League places, Owen’s call is a reminder of how fragile that progress can be.
Rooney sees United clinging to fourth
Wayne Rooney sits somewhere between the optimism of Butt and the scepticism of Owen. In his BBC Sport predictions for the Premier League top four, United’s all-time leading scorer has Carrick’s side finishing fourth.
It’s a verdict that speaks to faith in Carrick’s impact, but also to the sheer congestion at the top. Arsenal, City, Liverpool, Chelsea — they’re all in the conversation. Rooney still finds room for United.
Five former players. Five different finishing spots: second, third, third, fourth, fifth. The only consensus is that Carrick has dragged Manchester United back into the argument.
Now comes Hull away at 12:30pm. Soon enough, the table will stop being theory and start being reality.
