Man United Drop Into Relegation Zone After Worst Premier League Start

Manchester United have dropped into the Premier League relegation zone following Saturday’s results, with their worst start to a league season in the Premier League era leaving them 18th in the table.

United have collected just seven points from nine matches, winning once, drawing four times and losing four. They are level on points with Crystal Palace but occupy 18th place because of their superior goal difference, while Sunderland sit bottom with five points.

Coventry City’s position above United is also significant. Despite suffering a 3-1 defeat to Everton, Coventry remain 17th with nine points from 10 matches, leaving Carrick’s side among the bottom three.

The latest setback in United’s league campaign increases the pressure on Carrick ahead of Sunday’s home encounter with Aston Villa. A victory at Old Trafford would offer an opportunity to climb out of the relegation zone before the international break.

United’s seven-point return after nine matches represents their worst start in the Premier League era. Their previous lowest tally at this stage was 10 points in 2019-20 under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, although they recovered to finish third after an impressive 14-match unbeaten run.

Their struggles are not without precedent in the club’s top-flight history. United’s worst-ever start came in 1930/31, when they lost their first 12 league matches and collected no points. They finished bottom and were relegated after conceding 115 goals in 42 games.

The last time United collected seven or fewer points from their opening nine top-flight matches was in 1986/87, when they had just five under Ron Atkinson. He was replaced by Alex Ferguson after 13 matches.

United also managed seven points in the opening nine games of the 1960-61 season, while they collected five in 1892-93 and four in 1972-73, with the figures adjusted to reflect the modern three-points-for-a-win system.

Their attacking output has also been disappointing. United have scored just 10 goals in nine league matches this season, although seven other Premier League teams have scored fewer.

Only seven top-flight campaigns since 1906-07 have seen United score fewer goals by this stage of a season. Their lowest tally was four after nine matches in 1972/73.

A Champions League comeback victory over Roma in midweek offered some encouragement, but United’s domestic struggles remain unresolved. Carrick now faces an urgent task to lift his side out of the relegation zone, starting with Sunday’s meeting with Villa.