Man Utd in danger of setting new club record for Premier League defeats
- Man Utd could set for low for defeats in a Premier League season vs Liverpool on Sunday
- Latest defeat to Chelsea took Erik ten Hag's side to 12 losses this term
- Red Devils are sixth with little hope of Champions League qualification
Manchester United are in danger of setting a new negative Premier League record the next time they lose a match in the division.
Mass injury absentees and ropy management have led to a disappointing second season in charge for Erik ten Hag, whose side are well off the Champions League qualification pace with only the FA Cup remaining as their sole chance of silverware in 2023/24.
Man Utd sit in sixth place ahead of Liverpool's visit to Old Trafford, having managed 48 points from their 30 games so far. There have already been 12 defeats, which equals the club's most in a single Premier League season alongside 2013/14 and 2021/22.
Just one more will see this Red Devils' squad sit alone with 13 losses, which will hardly impress Sir Jim Ratcliffe and Ineos as they assess the manager situation ahead of the summer transfer window.
United also need 11 more points in their final eight games to overtake their previous worst haul of 58 from 2021/22, though that was still enough for sixth place.
Ten Hag does have a kind run-in on paper to prepare for once they face Liverpool on Sunday. Man Utd visit Bournemouth next weekend before their FA Cup semi-final with Championship side Coventry.
Man Utd's most defeats in a Premier League season
Season | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | GD | Points | Position |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
2013/14 | 38 | 19 | 7 | 12 | +21 | 64 | 7th |
2021/22 | 38 | 16 | 10 | 12 | 0 | 58 | 6th |
2023/24 | 30 | 15 | 3 | 12 | -1 | 48 | 6th |
2015/16 | 38 | 19 | 9 | 10 | +14 | 66 | 5th |
2018/19 | 38 | 19 | 9 | 10 | +11 | 66 | 6th |
Matches at home against struggling Sheffield United and Burnley should help United bolster their points total before trickier assignments with Crystal Palace, Arsenal and Brighton round off the 2023/24 season.
Ten Hag claimed he had "no doubts" he would be at Old Trafford next season after the ridiculous 4-3 defeat to Chelsea in midweek, adding: "I'm just focusing on my job, focusing on this process, in this project. I really love to be here, I'm enjoying it. For me it's a challenge."
United can point to their own 4-3 success in the FA Cup as reason for optimism against Liverpool on Sunday, though their opponents are in the hunt for the title and looking to reclaim top spot after wins for Manchester City and Arsenal earlier this weekend.