Five worrying stats that suggest the wheels are falling off Ole’s Man Utd
Manchester United’s 4-0 defeat away to Everton in the Premier League this afternoon has produced some pretty damning stats for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer to worry about.
Goals from Richarlison, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Lucas Digne and Theo Walcott secured the Toffees a fantastic three points but dented United’s top-four hopes.
A mixed season for United: Five things you need to know…
- A poor start to the season – both on and off the pitch – resulted in Manchester United sacking manager Jose Mourinho in December.
- Former club striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was brought in and won his first eight games in charge across all competitions.
- United also defeated PSG across two legs in the Champions League round-of-16 but lost out to Barcelona in the quarter-finals.
- Recently, United have lost six out of the last eight in all competitions.
- United conceded 13 goals in Solskjaer’s opening 17 games but have conceded 16 in the past eight games.
https://audioboom.com/posts/7234057-i-can-t-think-of-any-potential-arsenal-signings-that-make-more-sense
Here are some of those records that may make United fans squirm.
Premier League goals conceded
A long-range strike – which David de Gea could have done a little better with – from Sigurdsson doubled Everton’s first-half lead. The Iceland international’s goal was the 46th Premier League goal conceded by Manchester United this season, breaking an unwanted record in the process.
46 – Manchester United have conceded 46 league goals this season, their most ever in a Premier League campaign, last conceding more in 1989-90 (47). Submissive. #EVEMUN pic.twitter.com/md5nQ1TpZT
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 21, 2019
It was the highest amount of goals conceded by Manchester United in the Premier League era, last conceding more (47) in the 1989-90 season. Digne’s second-half strike saw United equal that record just 10 minutes after the restart before Walcott’s effort saw United smash that total.
Away day hell
Solskjaer’s Manchester United side have now lost three consecutive Premier League away games for the first time since 1996. Arsenal 2-0 Man Utd, Wolves 2-1 Man Utd and Everton 4-0 Man Utd. Ouch.
Long range efforts
Not the best season for De Gea this time around, confirmed by Digne’s strike in the second half. The Spaniard has now conceded eight goals from outside the box, the most since the 2013/14 season.
De Gea’s recent performances have personified United’s weak defensive unit of recent times.
8 – David de Gea has now conceded eight goals from outside the box in the Premier League this season; the only PL season that he's conceded more from long range was 2013-14 (9). Myopic. #EVEMUN pic.twitter.com/SI0FT9wjbl
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 21, 2019
Four goals away from home
Walcott’s goal secured a thumping victory for the Evertonians but it was the first time since 2016 that United conceded four goals in the Premier League away from home.
They lost 4-0 to Chelsea that day but today’s result has to be considered one of their worst performances in recent Premier League history.
Consecutive defeats
To top it all off, the last time Manchester United lost five consecutive games in all competitions was in 1981, another stat Solskjaer may not want to read about following this afternoon’s defeat at the hands of Marco Silva’s Everton.
Considering United never broke this record throughout the entirety of Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign, this is some ‘impressive’ form the club are currently in.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kofV4ySp-vs
Subscribe to Squawka’s Youtube channel here.
Can United still make the top-four?
It seemed a long way off when Solskjear first took control of the club back in December but the Red Devils seemed to have given themselves a fantastic chance of finishing in the top-four this season.
However, recent weeks have seen United produce below-standard performances while the likes of Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal and Chelsea have picked up vital wins to keep the pace at the top end of the table.
United have four fixtures remaining before the season is out but it doesn’t get any easier for Solskjaer’s side.
Next up are arch-rivals and Premier League title chasers Manchester City who visit Old Trafford on Wednesday. Following that, United travel to England’s capital to face top-four rivals Chelsea.
Fixtures against Huddersfield Town and Cardiff City follow before the season is out but United may already be out of the top-four race by this point.
