Man Utd’s worst starts to a Premier League season after 7 games – & where they finished after 38

Mitchell Wilks • 30 Sep 2023

A 1-0 defeat at home to Crystal Palace resigned Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United to their fourth defeat from their opening seven games of the 2023-24 Premier League season, just days after comfortably beating the Eagles in the Carabao Cup.

After a slow start to life in his first season as United manager, Ten Hag overcame squad deficiencies and adversity from around the club to steer United to a third-place finish, an FA Cup final and to their first major honour since 2017, beating Newcastle United in the Carabao Cup.

It’s been a similarly difficult beginning to his second campaign in charge, but with more money spent and the pressure on to better last season’s performances, United’s slow start – which has seen them win just three times and not in convincing fashion – is the last thing the Dutch coach needs while he steers the club through an injury crisis.

A home defeat to Palace was the latest in a string of unconvincing performances and a second successive home defeat, having previously been unbeaten in the league at Old Trafford for the best part of a year.

When it rains it pours, and while this is probably a good time to make a joke about Old Trafford’s infamous leaky roofs, United are in a seriously tough spot. This is the first time they’ve lost four of their opening seven games since the Premier League’s introduction in 1992-93.

But where does it rank among United’s worst beginnings to a Premier League season after seven games, and can the season be salvaged?

We’ve taken a look below at their eight slowest starts, taking the stats on each season from Transfermarkt, and where they subsequently finished after 38 games.

8. 2004-05

Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson

Games: 7
Won: 3
Drawn: 3
Lost: 1

Points: 12
Position after seven games: 5th

Goals for: 8
Goals against: 6
Goal difference: 2

Final position for season: 3rd

7. 2002-03

Manager: Sir Alex Ferguson

Games: 7
Won: 3
Drawn: 2
Lost: 2

Points: 11
Position after seven games: 8th

Goals for: 6
Goals against: 5
Goal difference: 1

Final position for season: 1st

6. 2014-15

Manager: Louis van Gaal

Games: 7
Won: 3
Drawn: 2
Lost: 2

Points: 11
Position after seven games: 4th

Goals for: 13
Goals against: 10
Goal difference: 3

Final position for season: 4th

Munich's head coach Louis van Gaal reacts during the Champions League match, round of 16 second leg, between FC Bayern Munich and Inter Milan in Munich, southern Germany, on Tuesday, March 15, 2011.