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Manchester United is a club accustomed to challenging for a Champions League place on a yearly basis, but 2021-22 has been a season to forget for Red Devils fans.
The club is sitting sixth in the Premier League table, out of the Champions League race, instead relegated to battling for a Europa League position. They could even wind up in the Europa Conference League next season.
United fired manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer back in November, and German boss Ralf Rangnick took over on an interim basis. Dutch manager Erik ten Hag has been tabbed to take over permanently at the end of the season, but there's still work to do for United to secure European play next year.
There's also work for Manchester United to do to avoid setting a few more club-record lows in the Premier League era. Here's a look at the marks that Man United will be trying to avoid, and what it needs to do to keep from sealing the 2021-22 season as the worst in recent club history.
MORE: Updated Premier League table and top-four race
Manchester United Premier League lows
Man United are on course to set the club's worst Premier League marks in several categories: fewest points, fewest wins, most goals conceded, and worst finish.
Points
Sitting on 58 points with one match to go, even a win at Crystal Palace in their final match of the season will still leave Man United with a club record low for points in a Premier League season.
The previous lowest points total in a season was the 64 points in 2013-14.
Worst Finish
The club, currently sitting in 6th place, experienced its lowest finishing position in 2013-14 when the Red Devils finished 7th.
The Red Devils could still fall to 7th place and they will hope West Ham (7th, 52 points) and Wolves (8th, 50 points) don't catch up with their games in hand.
Goals Conceded
United has scored 57 goals this season — eight more than their all-time season-low of 49 goals scored — so that mark is not in danger.
However, with 56 goals conceded already this campaign, the club has set an all-time high for goals conceded in a Premier League season, beating its previous mark by two goals (54 in 2018-19). By comparison, Premier League leaders Manchester City and Liverpool have given up just 21 and 22 goal, respectively.
Fewest wins
The Red Devils will also set a new low for wins in a Premier League season, currently with 16 victories.
With one match remaining, United is guaranteed to finish with fewer victories than the previous low of 18 wins in 2016-17 and 2019-20.
Most Losses
If Manchester United lose their final match at Crystal Palace, they will match their all-time most losses in a season with 12, set in 2013-14.
Premier League worsts in Man United history
| Category | Total | Season |
|---|---|---|
| Worst Finish | 7th | 2013-14 |
| Fewest Points | 58 | 2021-22 |
| Fewest Goals Scored | 49 | 2015-16 |
| Most Goals Conceded | 56 | 2021-22 |
| Fewest Wins | 16 | 2021-22 |
| Most Losses | 12 | 2013-14 |
Worst Manchester United Premier League finishes
Ranking the worst Premier League finishes in Manchester United's history since 1992-93 (ranked by total points). The 2021-22 season could finish as the worst yet.
| Season | Points | League Finish | Matches Played | Record (W-L-D) | Goal Difference | Manager(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021-22* | 58 | 6th | 37 | 16-11-10 | +1 (57-56) | Solskjaer/Carrick/Rangnick |
| 2013-14 | 64 | 7th | 38 | 19-12-7 | +21 (64-43) | Moyes/Giggs |
| 2018-19 | 66 | 6th | 38 | 19-10-9 | +11 (65-54) | Mourinho/Solskjaer |
| 2015-16 | 66 | 5th | 38 | 19-10-9 | +14 (49-35) | Van Gaal |
| 2019-20 | 66 | 3rd | 38 | 18-8-12 | +30 (66-36) | Solskjaer |
| 2016-17 | 69 | 6th | 38 | 18-5-15 | +25 (54-29) | Mourinho |
* = There are three matches remaining in the 2021-22 campaign.
Notable stats from this Man United season
Several of the 2021-22 season lowlights have been especially painful:
- It has been five full seasons without a trophy for Man United, the first time that’s happened since a stretch between 1977 and 1983;
- Man United took only two points from their six Premier League fixtures this season against the current top three (Man City, Liverpool, Chelsea), both coming in draws against Chelsea;
- Man United lost five straight away league matches (March 6, 2022 — May 7, 2022) for the first time since 1981;
- 12 percent of Liverpool’s total Premier League goals this season have come against United (as of May 2);
- Mohamed Salah scored five goals in Liverpool's two league fixtures against United this season, the first player to score five against them in a single Premier League campaign;
- Man United has held 52.5 percent possession this season (as of May 7), the club's lowest mark in the last six years.
Manchester United 2021-22 season at a glance
The 2021-22 season has been a difficult one for Manchester United. In addition to the managerial change, there was some overhauling of the roster and the front office.
Club CEO Ed Woodward departed the club on Feb. 1, 2022 after the club's first four-year drought of silverware since the mid-1980's.
Manchester United also failed to advance to the quarterfinals in three separate club competitions:
- Champions League: Round of 16 (Atletico Madrid, 2-1 on agg.)
- FA Cup: Round of 32 (Middlesbrough, 8-7 PKs after 1-1 draw)
- League Cup (Carabao Cup): Round of 32 (West Ham, 1-0 loss)
2021-22 Premier League table
Updated as of Saturday, May 7
| Place | Team | PTS | GP | GD | Next Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.* | Chelsea | 67 | 35 | +39 | @ LEE, May 11 |
| 4.* | Arsenal | 63 | 34 | +13 | vs. LEE, May 8 |
| 5.** | Tottenham | 61 | 34 | +20 | @ LIV, May 7 |
| 6.** | Man United | 58 | 37 | +1 | @ CRY, May 22 |
| 7.*** | West Ham | 52 | 35 | +7 | @ NOR, May 8 |
| 8. | Wolves | 50 | 35 | +1 | vs. MCI, May 11 |
* = Third & fourth place earn a berth in the UEFA Champions League.
** = Fifth & sixth place earn a UEFA Europa League berth next season.
*** = Seventh place will gain a Europa Conference playoff berth.
2021-22 Man United Premier League statistical leaders
Minimum 15 appearances & 1,000 Premier League minutes
| Category | Player | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Goals | Cristiano Ronaldo | 18 |
| Assists | Paul Pogba | 9 |
| Key Passes | Bruno Fernandes | 86 |
| Dribbles | Jadon Sancho | 48 |
| Passing % | Victor Lindelof | 89.9% |
| Tackles | Fred | 63 |
| Clearances | Harry Maguire | 99 |
MORE: Premier League top goal scorers for 2021-22 season
2021-22 Man United notable results
Wins & Draws
While it's been a down season, there were a few positive results. Man United scored a season-high five goals against Leeds United in the first match of the year, and did the double over Champions League battlers Tottenham. A win over Arsenal and draws with Chelsea were other positive results on the season.
| Date | Match | |
|---|---|---|
| Aug. 14, 2021 | Man United 5, Leeds United 1 | Highlights |
| Oct. 30, 2021 | Tottenham 0, Man United 3 | Highlights |
| Nov. 28, 2021 | Chelsea 1, Man United 1 | Highlights |
| Dec. 2, 2021 | Man United 3, Arsenal 2 | Highlights |
| Mar. 12, 2022 | Man United 3, Tottenham 2 | Highlights |
| Apr. 28, 2022 | Man United 1, Chelsea 1 | Highlights |
Losses
Notable low points of the campaign included blowout losses against title contenders Liverpool and Man City, serving to display the gulf between United and the top Premier League sides.
The Red Devils also fell to relegation candidates Watford and Everton on the road, which were big disappointments. A 4-0 loss at Brighton in the penultimate match was further proof of just how far the Red Devils have fallen.
| Date | Match | |
|---|---|---|
| Oct. 24, 2021 | Man United 0, Liverpool 5 | Highlights |
| Nov. 6, 2021 | Man United 0, Man City 2 | Highlights |
| Nov. 20, 2021 | Watford 4, Man United 1 | Highlights |
| Mar. 6, 2022 | Man City 4, Man United 1 | Highlights |
| Apr. 9, 2022 | Everton 1, Man United 0 | Highlights |
| Apr. 19, 2022 | Liverpool 4, Man United 0 | Highlights |
| May 7, 2022 | Brighton 4, Man United 0 | Highlights |
