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Manchester United have a terrible goal difference of minus one in their previous 57 games in all competitions.
The Red Devils embarrassingly finished eighth last season in the Premier League but the season had some gloss added to it after they managed to win the FA Cup and subsequently qualify for this season’s edition of the Europa League.
Nonetheless, one of the most obvious problems that United have had in recent months is their inability to keep a clean sheet and that they fold dramatically under pressure, as they did at the weekend, conceding three goals in 20 minutes to Liverpool.
This was laid bare last season when the club conceded a ridiculous 85 goals in all competitions.
However, United have also struggled to put the ball in the net, as they only found the goal 57 times last season in the Premier League.
This was the joint lowest in the top half and only five times more than relegated Luton Town.
This season has not started out much better as they have scored only two goals in three games and conceded five, starting off the campaign with a goal difference of minus two.
TNT Sports have highlighted just how bad the situation is by showing that United have a goal difference of minus one in their last 57 matches in all competitions.
The performance is even poorer when compared to their supposed rivals as Manchester City have a statistic of plus 93, Liverpool plus 78 and Arsenal plus 79. Lightyears ahead of United.
Man United have got some catching up to do 👀 pic.twitter.com/D3u2E2DiNc
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) September 2, 2024
The problem for Erik ten Hag is that you cannot hide after 57 matches. Any team can have a bad run in front of goal or be unlucky with injuries, but being so poor for so long stinks of being an average team at best.
What’s more, United’s poor defending and attacking is not being counted in only the Premier League but these games include matches against lower league teams in the FA Cup like Wigan and Newport County and weaker Champions League teams like FC Copenhagen and Galatasaray.
Erik ten Hag boldly stated before his side’s match against Liverpool that United had been second only to City since his arrival to English football as they have won the Carabao cup and FA Cup.
However, this notion is ripped to shreds when you look at the statistics. The best teams do not finish eighth and they certainly don’t have a negative goal difference.
The Peoples Person has already written on how the manager’s empty words will not fool an intelligent fanbase into thinking everything is all OK at the club and these glaring issues must be dealt with if United are to make anything like the progress their fans expect this season.
Of course it is a great thing to win trophies but cup wins can be a bit of a lottery and certainly do not indicate who the best team is. League points and goals scored and conceded do and Ten Hag’s United are a long long way from the top in this regard.
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