Manchester United are a club accustomed to challenging for a Champions League place on a yearly basis, but 2023/24 is looking like a season that fans will want to forget in a hurry.
After 35 Premier League games, the Red Devils found themselves in eighth place in the table and out of the running for a top-four spot. They went out of Europe before the new year after their worst group-stage performance ever, their Carabao Cup defence was ended on home soil by Newcastle United, and the FA Cup remains the only prospect of winning a trophy — assuming they can defeat Manchester City in the final.
It all means manager Erik ten Hag is facing mounting pressure. A 4-3 defeat to Chelsea on April 4, in which his team led 3-2 in the 100th minute of the match but somehow contrived to lose, was the most dramatic example of United throwing away points in the dying moments of matches and highlighted the fragility of Ten Hag’s side this season.
Against Crystal Palace on May 6, an injury-ravaged United slumped to a 4-0 thrashing that left many wondering whether Ten Hag would even be in a job for the final two league matches of the campaign.
There’s work for United to do to avoid setting a few more club-record lows in the Premier League era. Here’s a look at the marks they will be trying to avoid, and what they need to do to keep from sealing the 2023/24 season as the worst in recent club history.
MORE: The latest Premier League standings
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
United’s worst points return in the Premier League era was 58, which they posted in 2021/22, the season before Erik ten Hag became manager.
The previous lowest points total in a season was the 64 points in 2013/14 under David Moyes.
Worst Finish
Moyes took United to their lowest finish in the table in the Premier League era in that 2013/14 season, when the reigning champions ended up seventh.
There is a very real possibility United could finish even lower than that in 2023/24: after 35 games, the Red Devils were eighth in the table.
Goals Scored
United’s all-time season-low figure of 49 goals scored was at risk of being broken in 2023/24, but they will finish the campaign at least little above that figure.
Goals Conceded
United conceded 57 goals in 2021/22, beating their previous mark by three (54 in 2018/19). Three more goals against will see them set a new unwanted club record.
Fewest wins
The Red Devils also set a new low for wins in a Premier League season in 2021/22, with 16 victories.
Ten Hag’s side have already won 16 games in 2023/24, so they will at least avoid breaking this record.
Most Losses
United’s biggest number of defeats in a single Premier League season is 12. Their humiliating loss at Crystal Palace on May 6 saw them set a new worst tally of 13.
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 | 57 | 2021/22 |
| Fewest Wins | 16 | 2021/22 |
| Most Losses | 13 | 2023/24 |
Worst Manchester United Premier League finishes
Ranking the worst Premier League finishes in Manchester United’s history since 1992/93 (ranked by total points).
| Season | Points | League Finish |
Matches Played |
Record (W-L-D) | Goal Difference |
Manager(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021/22 | 58 | 6th | 38 | 16-12-10 | 0 (57-57) | 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 |
Premier League 2023/24 TV channels, live streams
| Region | TV | Streaming |
| Australia | — | Optus Sport |
| Canada | — | |
| India | Star Sports | Disney+, Hotstar, JioTV |
| UK | Sky Sports, TNT Sports | NOW TV, Sky Go, Amazon Prime |
| USA | USA Network, Telemundo, Universo |
Fubo, Peacock |
UK: Matches are carried across Sky Sports and TNT Sports streaming and TV platforms, with select matches on Amazon Prime.
USA: Select matches are televised on USA Network (English) and Telemundo or Universo (Spanish), and all three channels can be streamed on Fubo. The rest of the matches are streamed on NBC platform Peacock for subscribers.
Canada: Every Premier League game this season is live streamed exclusively via Fubo in Canada.
Australia: Fans in Australia can stream every match live and on demand on Optus Sport.
India: Star Sports network has the rights to show Premier League matches in India. As well as an English broadcast on Star Sports Select, select matches will be available via regional feeds on Star Sports 3 (in Bengali, English, Kannada, Malayalam), Star Sports 1 (Bangla) and Star Sports 1 (Tamil).