ManU lurching towards crisis as ManC cloud hangs over Premier League

MANCHESTER, OCT 16: Manchester United travel to historic rivals Leeds on Sunday with pressure mounting on manager Michael Carrick, while Manchester City aim to extend their perfect Premier League start despite uncertainty over their future.

Brighton could be one of the big winners should City suffer severe sanctions for breaking financial rules.

The Seagulls are riding high, just two points behind second-placed Arsenal, ahead of their grudge match against Crystal Palace.

AFP Sport looks at the pick of the action from the English top flight this weekend.

United are off to their worst league start in 40 years and were plunged further into chaos by defender Lisandro Martinez's attack on the club's hierarchy over a lack of investment in the squad after Tuesday's 2-0 defeat by Atletico Madrid.

The Argentine took aim at technical director Jason Wilcox after the Red Devils' main transfer business during the summer window focused on bringing in three midfielders.

But Martinez himself has been one of those most culpable for a miserable start to the campaign for his part in goals conceded to Fulham and Tottenham in recent weeks.

United have won just one of their opening six league games and were also dumped out of the League Cup by Brighton.

Leeds last beat the Red Devils at Elland Road back in 2002, but did inflict the only home defeat of Carrick's interim spell in charge last season when the sides met in April.�"AFP