Unbeaten since being installed until the end of the season (his three successive wins are a feat that was only managed once during Ruben Amorim's 14-month tenure), things now look far healthier for the Red Devils, who are challenging for the Champions League places.
No league wins for Spurs in six
Thomas Frank's Spurs, by contrast, are languishing in the bottom half of the Premier League table and haven't won in six straight games.
Frank might take heart in the fact that United haven't won any of their last six league games against the Lilywhites (going back to October 2022), drawing three and losing three.
They have also gone eight games without a win against them in all competitions, which is the second-longest run any team has had against them this century after Chelsea went a dozen games unbeaten against them between 2012 and 2017.
Further, a 2-2 draw against Man City last time out was creditable, even if it means they're still 11 points off of a Europa League spot at this stage of the 2025/26 campaign.
It was a 2-2 draw the last time these two teams met back in November, when Bryan Mbeumo and Matthijs de Ligt scored for United, the latter in the 96th-minute, with Mathys Tel and Richarlison on target for Spurs.
Richarlison still not fit
The Brazilian is the North London club's top scorer this season with seven goals, but he is out injured and will miss this match.
He's not the only injury concern for the Dane, who also won't be able to call upon the services of Mo Kudus, James Maddison, Rodrigo Bentancur, Lucas Bergvall, Ben Davies, Pedro Porro, Dejan Kulusevski and Kevin Danso.
Dominic Solanke has been passed fit despite picking up a knock last week, whilst Micky van de Ven returns and Djed Spence will take a late fitness test to determine if he plays any part or not.
Patrick Dorgu, Mason Mount and de Ligt are the only three players that Carrick can't count upon as he looks to build on a hugely positive start in the Old Trafford dugout.
Mbeumo and Cunha are on form
Mbeumo and Matheus Cunha are on fire for United at present, with eight and six goals respectively, and both will need to be kept quiet if Tottenham want their unbeaten run against the North West giants to continue.
Given how poorly United appeared to play at times under Ruben Amorim, it might be a surprise to learn that they've only lost twice at the Theatre of Dreams in the league this season (W7, D3).
Away from N17, Spurs have accrued 19 points from the 36 available, with their last away victory coming at Crystal Palace on December 28.
The visitors will certainly have to be aware of United's strength from set-pieces too, which has gone a little under the radar.
14 goals (excluding penalties) from dead-ball situations is second only to Arsenal's 17, and some of Bruno Fernandes' 12 assists - his joint-best return (currently level with his 2020/21 output) - will have come as a result of those.
Tottenham have never won on consecutive visits to United
In this fixture last season, Tottenham headed back to the capital after a comprehensive 3-0 victory at Old Trafford, though they've never won on consecutive visits to the famous old ground since the advent of the Premier League in 1992.
With United's defence seemingly a lot more settled under Carrick, the likes of Xavi Simons and Solanke will therefore have to be at the very top of their game to try and get any advantage over Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez.
Although the hosts have still had the most total shots in the division this season (385) and the most on target (135), the game is likely to be won and lost in midfield, where Conor Gallagher and Joao Palhinha will do battle against Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo.
The Brazilian, who recently announced he will leave United at the end of the current season, has been excellent of late, and won 77.8% of his one-on-ones in the victory against Fulham last time out.
An 87.5% pass accuracy in the win against Arsenal was his joint second-highest this season, so clearly whatever system Carrick is playing is suiting the 33-year-old as much as his colleagues.
An expectant Old Trafford crowd are likely to create a totally different atmosphere again to that which was routinely experienced earlier in the season.
Goals will almost certainly flow given that there hasn't been a goalless draw in this fixture in any competition since December 2014, and, since then, at least two goals have been scored in 18 of the following meetings.
A win for United will keep them in fourth place regardless of what happens elsewhere, whilst three much-needed points for Tottenham won't see them move any higher than 13th at best, but it would keep the teams just underneath them at arm's length.
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