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Manchester United's worst start to a season for 30 years in numbers

Manchester United's worst start to a season for 30 years in numbers
© Reuters
It is just two years since United equalled their best start to a Premier League season under Jose Mourinho.

Manchester United have made their worst start to a Premier League season after Monday night’s 1-1 draw with Arsenal at Old Trafford.

Here, the PA news agency examines the numbers behind United’s miserable start to the season and looks at how manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer compares to his predecessors.

Manchester United’s six worst starts in last 30 years: points won after seven matches
Manchester United’s six worst starts in last 30 years: points won after seven matches (PA Graphics)

Pressure points

Southampton v Manchester United – Premier League – St Mary’s
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has presided over Manchester United’s worst start to a Premier League season (Mark Kerton/PA)

The pressure has built on Solskjaer as United have taken only nine points from their first seven games – just enough for them to squeak in to the top half of the table. United have won only once since their opening 4-0 victory over Chelsea, with Marcus Rashford’s penalty earning them a 1-0 home win against Leicester.

Fall from grace

Jose Mourinho File Photo
Jose Mourinho was in charge when United equalled their best start to a Premier League season just two years ago (Martin Rickett/PA)

It is just two years since Jose Mourinho oversaw United’s joint-best start to a Premier League season. United claimed 19 points from their first seven games in 2017-18, equalling the starts made by Sir Alex Ferguson’s sides in 1999-2000 and 2011-12. United finished runners-up under Mourinho that season, but a whopping 19 points adrift of champions Manchester City.

Ole at the wheel

The figures make bleak reading for Solskjaer when comparing the Norwegian’s record with his predecessors. Mourinho – who would be sacked in December – made a poor start last season, but his 10-point haul from the first seven games was still one more than Solskjaer has managed 12 months on. David Moyes also took 10 points from his first seven games in the 2013-14 season, while Louis Van Gaal won 11 and 16 points in the respective 2014-15 and 2015-16 campaigns.

30-year low

Man Utd 1999 Legends v Bayern Munich Legends – Old Trafford
United have not started so badly since the early days of Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign 30 years ago (Martin Rickett/PA)

The last time United made such a poor start to a campaign was under Ferguson in the days of the old First Division. United picked up only seven points from their first seven games of the 1989-90 season, a run which brought successive defeats to Derby, Norwich and Everton and ended with a famous 5-1 thrashing to Manchester City at Maine Road. United ended up 13th that season, but lifted the FA Cup as Ferguson won his first trophy in England.

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Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City5410135813
2Liverpool5401101912
3Aston Villa5401107312
4Arsenal532083511
5Chelsea5311115610
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle531176110
7Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton52308449
8Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest52306429
9Fulham52217528
10Tottenham HotspurSpurs52129547
11Manchester UnitedMan Utd52125507
12Brentford520379-26
13Bournemouth512258-35
14West Ham UnitedWest Ham511359-44
15Leicester CityLeicester503268-23
16Crystal Palace503247-33
17Ipswich TownIpswich503238-53
18Southampton501429-71
19Wolverhampton WanderersWolves5014514-91
20Everton5014514-91


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