Four results expose major Manchester United weakness this season

The backbone of Manchester United's third-placed finish last season was their impressive record at Old Trafford.

Winning 15 of their 19 Premier League home games in 2022/23, United amassed 48 points from 57 on offer. Only Manchester City won more matches (17) and accumulated more points (52) on their own patch.

Following Saturday's 2-1 reverse to Fulham, who had only won once on the road in the Premier League this term prior to their trip to Old Trafford, United have won just seven of their 13 home league games, amassing 22 points in the process. By comparison, City have won eight points more this time around thus far.

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The defeat to Marco Silva's men, of course, halted United's five-game winning run in all competitions. In reality, it should have been seen as a golden opportunity to extend their winning run to six.

However, United have been guilty of passing up golden opportunities all too often on their own patch this season. The defeat to Fulham was the Reds' third at home to a side currently camped inside the bottom half of the table, following earlier reverses against Crystal Palace (1-0) and Bournemouth (3-0).

United were also beaten by Brighton & Hove Albion on their own patch in September, losing 3-1. The Seagulls, who cut Erik ten Hag's side apart that afternoon, are also currently beneath the Reds in the table, albeit by one position at the time of writing.

Home defeats to Bournemouth, Brighton, Palace and Fulham, come the end of the season, should United miss out on a top-four spot, will be immediately identified as results that cost them dearly. With such an expensively assembled