Manchester United drew 1-1 with Leeds at Elland Road on Sunday, leaving Michael Carrick's side in 13th place with seven points from seven Premier League games and no top-flight win since August.
United took the lead before half-time — a goal that came via a Youri Tielemans cross and involved Bryan Mbeumo — though it was their third consecutive 1-1 scoreline in the division, having previously been held by Tottenham and Everton. They have now dropped six points from winning positions in the league this term.
Calvert-Lewin levelled in the 51st minute, latching onto Tarik Muharemovic's knockdown from a corner and converting from close range. Carrick sent on Mason Mount for Carlos Baleba and Matheus Cunha for Tielemans in the second period, yet United struggled to test Leeds goalkeeper James Trafford as the game petered out.
Carrick had set up his side with a back three and wing backs to counter Leeds' 3-4-3 formation, with Andrey Santos and Baleba in a deeper midfield role behind Bruno Fernandes and Tielemans. United led at the interval for the first time in the league this season, yet the shape had the look of damage limitation rather than attacking ambition.
Lisandro Martinez, who had publicly criticised the club's hierarchy after the midweek defeat to Atletico Madrid before subsequently apologising, started but did not reappear after the break. Carrick confirmed the defender had felt his thigh and was replaced by Noussair Mazraoui, who made 10 defensive contributions across the second half. Harry Maguire, who played the full 90 minutes, said the Martinez situation had been resolved, telling Sky Sports that the defender had come out, apologised, and the matter had been moved on from.
On the performance itself, Maguire told Sky Sports: "We could've been a bit braver with the ball and taken the ball under pressure. But we're in a circumstance where we are not as brave as we should be, and we have to get that back because to win games for Man Utd we have to have that bravery and composure."
Carrick, speaking after the match, described the display as a fresh start of sorts. He said the players had been desperate to do well for each other and the club, that there had been an edge and intensity to their work, and that he remained encouraged despite acknowledging the situation did not look too good from a certain angle. He added that he had no doubts United were capable of going on a good run.
The wider picture remains stark. United have won only twice across all competitions this season, against Ipswich in August and FK Sabah in the Champions League on 10 September. They are also out of the Carabao Cup, beaten by Brighton at the first hurdle for a second successive year, and sit just two points above the relegation zone. With proven managers including Eddie Howe, Antonio Conte and Kieran McKenna all currently available, boardroom patience is described as finite. The last time United began a season this poorly, in 1986, the manager was dismissed at the beginning of November.
United travel to Como in the Champions League on Wednesday before hosting Bournemouth at Old Trafford next Sunday.
Reporting: ESPN, Mirror, talkSPORT, The Sun, The Guardian, Evening Standard, Metro, Football Insider, TeamTalk, Daily Mail, BBC Sport, The Telegraph, RTÉ, Sky Sports.