Could Man United become the fifth side to be relegated after finishing 14th at the turn of the year?
According to Opta, only four teams in Premier League history who were 14th at the turn of a year have then been relegated (Newcastle in 2008-09, Burnley in 2009-10, Norwich in 2013-14 and Leeds in 2022-23).
Manchester United are now in danger of becoming the fifth team to suffer that fate.
Ruben Amorim’s side lost again for the umpteenth and for the first time in a long while to Newcastle United who scored twice in the first half to beat their host for the first time since the 2013/14 season.
In fact, Newcastle United have registered just their third win in their last 57 away league games against Manchester United, also winning in 1971-72 and 2013-14.
Manchester United have now lost six games in December, their most in a single month since September 1930 when they lost seven times.
The Red Devils have indeed conceded 18 goals in all competitions in December, their most in a single month since March 1964 when they also conceded 18.
Amorim has also missed his captain, Bruno Fernandes who was red carded at Wolves the last time out.
Manchester United have failed to score a single goal in any of the last four Premier League matches that haven’t featured their Portuguese captain.
It is certainly a bleak winter for the Red Devils.
They have lost three consecutive league matches at home for the first time since December 1978 to February 1979 and this is the first time they have lost three league games in a row without scoring since May 2015.
That’s five league defeats in the same month for the first time since September 1962 and are finishing a calendar year lower than seventh in the table for the first time since 1989, when they were 15th.
Their tally of 22 points after 19 matches means United set a new club record for the lowest points at the halfway stage of a Premier League season, beating their previous mark of 28 in 2019-20.
The Red Devils will start their Premier League campaign in 2025 with a trip to Anfield where they will face the free-scoring, table-topping Liverpool on January 5.
