September 23, 2024
Manchester United’s troubles in the Premier League aren’t going away, as a 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace over the weekend added more disappointment for fans hoping for improvement. While the midweek 7-0 win over Barnsley in the Carabao Cup was a rare moment of joy, United’s league form remains shaky, with just two wins in their first five matches.
Mixed Results Early On
United did manage to pick up victories against Fulham and newly promoted Southampton at the start of the season. However, their overall inconsistency is hard to ignore. Scoring only five goals in those five matches—an average of one per game—they’ve also conceded five, which doesn’t show any solid defensive improvement either. Securing two clean sheets might seem decent, but fans are rightly expecting more from their team.
Who’s Finding the Net?
Another concern for United is that they don’t have a reliable goal scorer leading the line. Joshua Zirkzee, Amad Diallo, Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho, and Matthijs de Ligt have all chipped in with a goal each, but this spread-out contribution highlights the absence of a consistent striker. Relying on multiple players to find the net sporadically just isn’t enough to maintain momentum in the league.
Digging Deeper into the Numbers
When you take a closer look at the statistics, things get even more worrying. Since last season, United have created 76 scoring chances in Premier League play, but they’ve missed 67 of them. That’s a shocking conversion rate of just 31.6%, leaving only Everton behind them in this category. Their expected goals (xG) sit at 66.5%, placing them ninth in the Premier League. This stat alone points to how inefficient United has been in front of goal.
What’s Next for United?
As United fans wait for their team to find consistency, attention now shifts to the UEFA Europa League. They will be hosting Dutch side FC Twente on September 25. After a lackluster league start, supporters are hoping for a better showing in European competition to kick off what could be a crucial part of the season.
Manchester United’s goal troubles are a worrying trend, and unless they can find their rhythm soon, more frustration is likely to follow.
