Manchester United's poor form raises relegation scrap questions

Summarised from 3 outlets · 4 reports · Updated 2 Nov, 15:12 · Archive

Manchester United are fourth-bottom of the Premier League with one win from nine games after losing 2-0 to Chelsea.

Manchester United lost 2-0 to Chelsea on Saturday and sit fourth-bottom of the Premier League after nine games, separated from the relegation zone only by goal difference. They have one win from nine league games and have not won in all competitions for almost two months, beating only Ipswich in the league this season.

Their current form would not sustain a challenge to avoid the drop. With nine points from seven games as calculated by one outlet, their rate of accumulation would leave them around 30 points by the end of the season, far below the 42-point record for relegation set by West Ham in 2002-03, when they went down despite having England goalkeeper David James and players including Joe Cole and Jermain Defoe in their squad.

United have not been in the relegation zone after nine games or more since November 1986, shortly after Sir Alex Ferguson took charge. Their lowest position after at least nine games of a season since then was 17th in 1989-90, a position they have now returned to.

Former manager Erik ten Hag has said of the prospect of relegation: 'In the Premier League it's certainly possible, because all the teams are simply strong. They're all strong squads, all good managers. And if you end up on the wrong side once and you really get into that vicious circle - yes, then it can become very, very difficult.'

Paul Merson has predicted that Manchester United will be in the bottom three by early December. Manager Michael Carrick said after Saturday's defeat that the team must 'keep moving forward and winning games'. United have continued to invest heavily and remain one of the world's biggest clubs, making relegation a prospect unprecedented in modern English football.

How it is being reported

• Merse: Man Utd will be in relegation zone in a monthPaul Merson is back with his latest Sky Sports column with a damning condemnation of Manchester United's recent form and a grim prediction for their upcoming prospects.Sky Sports Football · 2 Nov, 11:20
• Merse: Man Utd will be in relegation zone in a monthPaul Merson is back with his latest Sky Sports column with a damning condemnation of Manchester United's recent form and a grim prediction for their upcoming prospects.Sky Sports · 2 Nov, 11:20
• Man Utd relegation 'certainly possible' claims ex-boss, but could they really go down?HAVE YOUR SAY: Manchester United are two points off the bottom of the Premier League with their current demise raising genuine questions over whether they could get relegatedMirror Sport · 2 Nov, 08:49
• Are Manchester United really at risk of a relegation scrap?Manchester United's current tally of nine points from seven games would not even get them 30 points if it was continued for the full season.BBC News · 31 Oct, 23:52

In this story: Manchester United · Chelsea · Michael Carrick · Erik ten Hag · West Ham · Premier League · Paul Merson

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