How Man Utd’s record after 14 games compares to every season post SAF

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Planet Football
28th December 2020

Whisper it quietly, but after a difficult start to the season, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has helped Manchester United become potential Premier League title contenders.

United haven’t won the league since Sir Alex Ferguson retired in 2013, with David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and Jose Mourinho all failing to live up to expectations.

We’ve compared their start to the 2020-21 Premier League season to their previous seven seasons to see how they compare.

2020-21

Games: 14
Won: 8
Drawn: 3
Lost: 3

Position: 4th
Points: 27

Goals for: 30
Goals against: 23
Clean sheets: 3

Despite suffering a 6-1 defeat against Jose Mourinho’s Tottenham at the start of the season, United have been able to turn things around in recent weeks.

They’ve won six of their first seven away games in the Premier League and also have a game in hand on the three teams above them.

2019-20

Games: 14
Won: 4
Drawn: 6
Lost: 4

Position: 9th
Points: 18

Goals for: 21
Goals against: 17
Clean sheets: 2

Final points tally (final position): 66 (3rd)

United beat Chelsea 4-0 on the opening weekend of 2019-20, but Ole Gunnar Solskjaer came under increasing pressure following defeats to Crystal Palace, West Ham, Newcastle and Bournemouth.

However, Bruno Fernandes’ arrival in the January transfer window helped transform their fortunes and United finished the season in third.

READ: Seven remarkable Bruno Fernandes stats from his first year at Man Utd

2018-19

Games: 14
Won: 6
Drawn: 4
Lost: 4

Position: 7th
Points: 22

Goals for: 22
Goals against: 23
Clean sheets: 2

Final points tally (final position): 66 (6th)

After United failed to sign the players that he desired, Jose Mourinho had his inevitable implosion during his third season at the club.

Defeats to Brighton, Tottenham, West Ham and Manchester City left United in seventh after 14 games and Mourinho was sacked a few weeks later.

2017-18

Games: 14
Won: 10
Drawn: 2
Lost: 2

Position: 2nd
Points: 32

Goals for: 32
Goals against: 8
Clean sheets: 9

Final points tally (final position): 81 (2nd)

United were among the favourites to win the Premier League title in 2017-18 after winning six of their opening seven games.

However, defeats to Huddersfield Town and Chelsea allowed Manchester City to open up a lead at the top of the table and United were never able to catch up.

2016-17

Games: 14
Won: 5
Drawn: 6
Lost: 3

Position: 6th
Points: 21

Goals for: 19
Goals against: 16
Clean sheets: 4

Final points tally (final position): 69 (6th)

United won their opening three league games in 2016-17 before suffering back-to-back defeats against Manchester City and Watford.

Jose Mourinho’s side then drew six of their next nine league games also lost 4-0 away against Chelsea in October 2016

2015-16

Games: 14
Won: 8
Drawn: 4
Lost: 2

Position: 3rd
Points: 28

Goals for: 20
Goals against: 10
Clean sheets: 8

Final points tally (final position): 66 (5th)

While Louis van Gaal’s football may have been as enjoyable as watching paint dry, United actually had an impressive start to 2015-16.

The Red Devils beat Tottenham and Liverpool at Old Trafford but did also suffer a 3-0 defeat away to Arsenal in their opening 14 league games.

READ: Where are they now? The 15 kids handed Man Utd debuts by Van Gaal

2014-15

Games: 14
Won: 7
Drawn: 4
Lost: 3

Position: 4th
Points: 25

Goals for: 24
Goals against: 16
Clean sheets: 4

Final points tally (final position): 70 (4th)

Despite spending over £100million on new signings, United picked up just two points from their opening three Premier League games under Louis van Gaal in 2014-15

They also lost 5-3 against a newly promoted Leicester City, while their best result after 14 games was a 2-1 win away against Arsenal.

2013-14

Games: 14
Won: 6
Drawn: 4
Lost: 4

Position: 9th
Points: 22

Goals for: 22
Goals against: 18
Clean sheets: 3

Final points tally (final position): 64 (7th)

David Moyes replaced Ferguson in 2013 and suffered defeats to Liverpool, Manchester City, West Brom and Everton in his opening 14 Premier League games.

United did get a point against Chelsea and Tottenham and beat Arsenal 1-0 at Old Trafford thanks to a Robin van Persie header.