Manchester United's biggest problem under Erik ten Hag is even worse than first feared

If Manchester United do end up finishing outside the top four this season their away form is going to have a lot to answer for.

Thursday night's 1-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium marked a missed opportunity for United to consolidate their position in the Champions League spots. A victory would have seen them leapfrog Newcastle United in the standings, climb up to third and open up a seven-point gap on fifth-placed Liverpool.

Instead, Alexis Mac Allister's late penalty means that United could now kick-off against West Ham United at 7pm on Sunday evening just a point ahead of Liverpool. The Merseysiders could eat further into the Reds' advantage with a win over Brentford at Anfield on Saturday evening, meaning they will be hot on their heels.

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Although United, as the clock ticked down at the Amex Stadium, looked as though they were going to bag themselves a precious point in the race for Champions League qualification, they again failed to impose themselves enough against a top half team away from home, certainly in the second half. It is an ongoing problem that Erik ten Hag is obviously struggling to try and solve.

With the exception of their 2-1 win over Fulham at Craven Cottage just prior to the World Cup, United have not beaten a single top half team on their travels this season. The Cottagers are currently safe in tenth, five points behind ninth-placed Brentford, meaning United have not beaten a current top nine team on the road all season.

The Reds have now faced all eight clubs away from home that join them in making up the current top nine and they have only picked up a single point against them, that being at Tottenham