Man United would be challenging Liverpool for the title if they just played the Premier League’s best teams every week … but their shocking record against sides below them means mediocrity beckons for Solskjaer’s men this season
- Manchester United’s Premier League form has been baffling this season
- They excel against the higher-ranked teams but lose to those below them
Solskjaer’s men have beaten Chelsea, Man City, Leicester and Tottenham so farBut they’ve also suffered five defeats, all to teams currently ranked below them
Adam Shergold for MailOnline
************************Published:(**************************************************: EST, (December) ************************************: (************************************************: (EST,) ******************************************** (December) ********************************** Manchester Unitedwould be enjoying an excellent season – if only they could just face the best teams in the
In a freakish run of form Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is at a loss to explain, eighth-placed United have performed brilliantly against the seven teams above them in the table.
But when it comes to playing the supposedly weaker sides positioned below them, they’ve more often than not struggled to get a result.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s Manchester United have come up some head-scratching formUnited turned in an atrocious performance in losing 2-0 to Watford on Sunday afternoon
A head-to-head table of the current top eight would have United second and unbeaten, just one points behind the leaders Liverpool.
That’s because they have beaten Chelsea 4-0, Manchester City 2 -1, Leicester City 1-0 and Tottenham Hotspur 2-1 in the first half of the campaign.They’ve also drawn 3-3 with Sheffield United, 1-1 with Wolves and are the only team to take points off Liverpool following that 1-1 draw at Old Trafford back in October.
But one of the fundamental reasons they’re not actually up there challenging Liverpool for the title is their shocking record against those lower ranked.
United would be towards the top of the table challenging Liverpool if only they could play the sides above them in the Premier League standings
Harry Maguire leads the celebrations after United won 2-1 against Manchester City this monthAnthony Martial celebrates as United thrashed Chelsea 4-0 on the opening weekendUnited are still the only team to have taken league points off Liverpool back in October
If you were to take a similar head-to-head table of positions eight down to in the Premier League, United would sit third bottom, with only Watford and Norwich beneath them .
They have won just two of************************************ matches against teams in this section of the table, drawing four and losing five.
their fifth league defeat of the season was a 2-0 reverse against bottom club Watford on Sunday afternoon, another miserable performance against a team you’d expect Solskjaer’s men to beat.
They have also lost 2-1 to Crystal Palace, 2-0 to West Ham, 1-0 to Newcastle United and 1-0 to Bournemouth in other hugely forgettable displays this season.
********** But when up against sides below them in the table, United have an appalling record this season
Stunned United players as they slumped to defeat against Newcastle at St James’ Park
The only joy they’ve had against teams below them in the table this season has been 3-1 wins over Brighton and Norwich.
Until United can figure out a way of turning up for the smaller games as well as the big ones , they seem destined for a mid-table finish.
‘It’s something we cant put our finger on , we are working hard in training and that’s all we can do, ‘said defender Harry Maguire when asked if he had an explanation after the Watford loss.
‘We come prepared. It’s disappointing. When you play the so called lower opposition the first goal is always crucial. ‘
Harry Maguire was at a loss to explain why United are so poor against lesser teams this season
Solskjaer needs to find a way of restoring consistency to United’s performances
With this baffling form in mind, it won’t come as much comfort that United face Newcastle United and Burnley, two sides immediately below them in the table, in their next two matches.
It’s an integral part of the reason why it’s currently two steps forward, one step back each week under Solskjaer at Old Trafford and something needs to change.
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