How Man Utd have made unwanted history with club’s worst Premier League season

Manchester United’s 4-0 humiliation against Brighton on Saturday ensured this will go down as their worst ever Premier League season by several measures.

The Red Devils will finish outside the top five for only the fourth time in the Premier League era while setting club records for fewest points and wins and most goals conceded in that time.

Here, the PA news agency looks at the unwanted history made by United.

When Sir Alex Ferguson rode into retirement and his chosen successor David Moyes was handed a six-year contract, United felt they had the future of the club in good hands.

Instead, Moyes’ reign ignominiously lasted less than one season – in which United’s 64-point total was their lowest of the Premier League era, and has remained so throughout the procession of unsuccessful managerial appointments which followed.

That record is certain to fall this season, though, with United on 58 points ahead of their final game against Crystal Palace on May 22 – when defeat would also see them match that season’s record of 12 losses.

Moyes’ side – shepherded after his sacking by caretaker Ryan Giggs for the final four games – finished seventh, another low water mark for the Premier League era’s most successful team.

They are currently sixth and another slip-up against Palace could drop them to seventh or even eighth, though it would require West Ham to win at least one of their two remaining games or Wolves all three of theirs.

Only twice before have United won fewer than half of their games in a Premier League season, with their 18 victories in both 2016-17 and 2019-20 their lowest until this term.

Last Monday’s win over Brentford was their 16th this season and at least left open the possibility of matching that mark – but