Two Manchester United players hold the key to ending staggering nine-month Premier League streak

The last time Manchester United kept successive clean sheets in the Premier League was also the last time Anthony Martial scored for the club. The latter will never happen again but the former could finally do so this weekend.

If you widen it out to all competitions, you could argue it has already been done. It was November 26 when United last enjoyed back-to-back shut-outs, beating Luton Town 1-0 at Old Trafford and then Everton 3-0 at Goodison Park. It was the day of Alejandro Garnacho's goal of the season and Martial's final contribution of any note before his departure.

While the Frenchman could make his debut for AEK Athens this weekend - a sign of the trajectory of his career - United will hope to prove they are going in the opposite direction. The last week has been a positive one and the gluttony of goals against Southampton and Barnsley has grabbed the headlines.

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But those 3-0 and 7-0 victories have come without the defences being breached, the first time that has happened in successive games for nine months. Critics will point to Barnsley's League One status so to really solidify defensive improvement, United would love to stop Crystal Palace from scoring, having shipped four to them at Selhurst Park back in May.

The signs are certainly encouraging. United faced just eight shots across 180 minutes against Southampton and Barnsley and the opposition have had just 52 attempts against Erik ten Hag's team in six games this season. That is a stark contrast to the profligacy of last season when they faced 57 in the last three games alone.

United faced double figures for shots