Nine damning stats that prove seventh-placed Man Utd are exactly where they should be

Despite finishing as runners-up in the Premier League less than seven months ago, Manchester United are some way off the pace this season.

Jose Mourinho’s men currently sit seventh in the league having won six, drawn three and lost four of their opening 13 games.

On Saturday the Red Devils were booed off the pitch at Old Trafford following another uninspiring performance against Crystal Palace, giving the Eagles their first away point against United since 1989.

In reality, United shouldn’t be where they are in the table. They have some of the best players in the league, coupled with some exciting young players who should be destined for greatness if allowed to develop. But something is going wrong.

This campaign was always going to be surrounded with talk of Mourinho’s record in his third season at previous clubs, which saw him sacked by Chelsea in 2016 and leave Real Madrid at the end of 2012/13 after relationships became strained.

But nobody truly expected United to start the season this poorly, already eight points and five places lower than they were at this stage last year.

So what are the problems at United this season? Take a look below to find out nine stats we believe prove the Red Devils are where they belong in the Premier League. Mourinho would be happy.

1. An inability to keep clean sheets

Last season, Manchester United goalkeeper David de Gea won the Premier League’s Golden Glove award for keeping 18 clean sheets across the season. Only champions Manchester City (27) conceded fewer goals than the Red Devils’ 28.

But this year it has been a completely different story. Conceding 21 goals already, United have kept just two clean sheets from their opening 13 games, including the goalless draw against Crystal Palace at the weekend.

Only two teams in the league have kept fewer this season, with West Ham United managing one and Fulham still awaiting their first clean sheet.

2. Allowing opponents too many shots on target

Part of the reason for United’s poor clean sheet record this season has been through the team allowing opponents more attempts on target.

In their 13 Premier League games so far, the Red Devils have allowed 64 shots on target in total at an average of 4.92 per 90 minutes. Only six teams have allowed more this season, all of which reside in the bottom half of the table.

This is unusual for United as, last season, their defence only allowed 147 shots on target across their 38 matches at an average of 3.87 per 90.

3. David de Gea’s below-average save rate

Of the 64 shots United have allowed on target, David de Gea has made 44 saves, with the other 20 resulting in goals for the opposition – plus one Victor Lindelof own goal.

This gives the Spaniard a save success rate of 68.75% when it comes to facing shots on target. Compared to the other teams in the Premier League, United rank 11th – closer to Huddersfield Town’s save rate of 59.32% than they are to Liverpool’s 83.87%.

4. Struggles in front of goal

Mourinho’s sides are never usually known for their goalscoring prowess, instead focusing on defensive stability and building from there.

It will come as no surprise, then, that United have scored 20 goals so far at an average of 1.54 per game.

Fittingly, six teams have scored more goals than United in the Premier League including Bournemouth (22), who sit one place below the Red Devils in the table.

United’s top scorer this season is Anthony Martial, who has notched an impressive six goals so far, but beyond that the Red Devils have struggled to share out the goals with Romelu Lukaku (four), Paul Pogba (three) and Marcus Rashford (two) the others to have scored more than one.

5. Failure to convert chances

Including blocked shots, United have taken 169 shots so far in the Premier League, the seventh most in the division. Scoring from 20 of their shots, the Red Devils have a conversion rate of 11.83%, the ninth best in the league.

United have also had the second-highest amount of shots on target with 77, only behind Manchester City.

However, some teams have been more clinical than United, with Arsenal the highest at 16.97%, but it must also be noted the Red Devils have had 42 of their 169 attempts blocked – the eighth most in the Premier League.

The man in form for United this season has been Martial, and it comes as no surprise the Frenchman has the best shot conversion rate with 37.5%. But, more damning, is the face Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez have both averaged a conversion rate lower than 10% at 7.89% and 7.69% respectively.

6. Lack of creativity

Part of the problem for United on the goalscoring front this season has been their lack of creativity leading up to the opposition area.

Mourinho’s men have created 124 chances so far, the eighth in the Premier League. On its own, this may not sound too bad, but the Red Devils have created fewer chances than bottom side Fulham (129) and Southampton (133) who sit 18th.

Furthermore, just 18 of these 124 have been big chances, the worst number of any side in the top half of the table.

7. A poor high press

Something which has grown in the Premier League this season has been team’s willingness to play a high pressing game, trying to force mistakes from their opponents close to their own area. If it succeeds, the attackers will have just a short space between them and the goal.

But it hasn’t quite made its way to Old Trafford this season, with Mourinho stuck in his own ways of allowing teams time to play out from the back.

In their 13 games in the Premier League so far this season, United have won possession in the attacking third of the pitch on 31 occasions, averaging 2.38 times per game.

Only one team has won possession in the attacking third on fewer occasions than United this season, 12th-placed Brighton and Hove Albion, who have managed it 30 times.

Compared to their ‘Big Six rivals’, United are some way off. Manchester City lead the way in that particular group, with 58, followed by Arsenal (57), Liverpool (56), Chelsea (50) and Tottenham (47).

8. Four points dropped from winning positions

Dropping four points from winning positions out of 13 games may not sound too bad, but for United it is a sign of the problems at Old Trafford.

Only five teams have dropped more points from winning positions than United, all of whom are currently in the bottom half of the table.

To make things worse, United have already equalled the amount of points they dropped from winning positions, when four was the best record in the Premier League.

Twice this season United have seen draws turn to defeats. The first came against Wolves when they looked to settle for a 1-0 win at Old Trafford, only to be deservedly pegged back by an away side showing attacking intent. Then, an injury-time Ross Barkley goal saw United snatch a draw from the claws of victory against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge.

9. Spending far too long behind

With four defeats already under their belts this season, United have spent some time behind in games.

But at 395 minutes chasing games, the Red Devils have one of the worst records in the Premier League. United have been their own worst enemies at times, giving themselves far too much to do.

Granted, on occasion, the Red Devils have overcome trailing, most notably against Newcastle United at Old Trafford. But when compared to rivals Manchester City who have been behind for a grand total of 12 minutes, things don’t look great.

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