The problem holding Manchester United back could be solved within four Premier League games

Although Manchester City, Arsenal, Newcastle and Brighton were the only sides in the Premier League to win more points in away fixtures than Manchester United last season, the team's record on the road was actually concerning.

That's because Erik ten Hag's players had become 'flat-track bullies' on their travels, who were often able to comfortably beat poorer teams but struggled against the rivals who were challenging them near the top of the table.

United won 27 points away from home and just two of those points were secured against traditional 'Big Six' clubs. Those draws came against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge and Spurs at the state-of-the-art Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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Casemiro scored a dramatic, last-minute equaliser to win a point against Chelsea in October and United surrendered a two-goal lead away at Tottenham in April, despite seemingly having an unassailable position at half-time.

Outside of the traditional 'Big Six' last season, Newcastle, Brighton, Aston Villa and Brentford all enjoyed great seasons and United lost against each of those clubs on the road, meaning they took just a single point from the top nine finishing clubs.

The 27 points won away from home were almost all secured - 97 per cent of the total - against the bottom 11 clubs in the table. You really don't have to be Albert Einstein to spot the pattern when United play away from Old Trafford.

Whichever way you manipulate last season's away results, the numbers are ultimately stark when you break them down and they make it impossible for