Manchester United’s current season has turned into an exercise in frustration. The club, once synonymous with attacking football and relentless dominance, is now struggling to find the back of the net. With only 28 goals after 25 Premier League matches, United is on track for one of its worst offensive seasons in the modern era. If the trend continues, the club could set an unwanted record for its lowest goal tally in a 38-game campaign.
United’s scoring rate of 1.12 goals per game places them among the bottom five teams in the league in terms of attacking output. Since the inception of the Premier League, the club has never produced such poor numbers at this stage of the season. Even under Louis van Gaal’s conservative tactics in 2015-16, United had at least 32 goals by this point. That season ended with 49 league goals—the club’s lowest total in the Premier League era. Now, Erik ten Hag’s team is on pace to match or even fall below that figure. By the way, on the beton.ng, you can find football predictions and watch Manchester United matches. Additionally, the site offers a list of bookmakers for those interested in betting options.
For context, between 2010 and 2016, United consistently scored over 60 league goals per season, often surpassing 70. The current side, however, looks incapable of reaching even 50. To avoid breaking the club’s lowest-ever Premier League goal tally, United must score 22 times in the remaining 13 matches—a difficult task given their inconsistency.
One of the most concerning aspects of this United side is the number of matches in which they fail to score altogether. Out of their 25 league games, they have drawn a blank in ten—matching the tally of Southampton in the 2022-23 season, a side that finished bottom with just nine points. The only team in the league with more scoreless games this season is Everton (12).
United has failed to score against eight different opponents, including title contenders like Arsenal, Liverpool, and Newcastle, but also against mid-table and lower-ranked teams such as Bournemouth, Wolves, and Crystal Palace. The latter even shut United out twice.
Considering the club spent €116 million on strikers Joshua Zirkzee and Rasmus Højlund, their combined total of five league goals is a major disappointment. For comparison, Amad Diallo, who cost six times less, has managed just one goal fewer than the duo. The lack of a consistent goal-scoring presence has left United with little attacking threat.
Since December, United’s form has been alarming. In the last 12 league matches, they have collected only 10 points, losing eight times. Only the bottom three clubs have earned fewer points in that span. While a relegation battle still seems unlikely, United’s recent results place them closer to the drop zone in terms of form than to the European qualification spots.
Their latest defeat, a 1-0 loss to Tottenham, further exposed their weaknesses. This was an unusual game by Tottenham’s standards—Spurs have played over 40 high-scoring matches in the past year, yet United’s lack of cutting edge ensured this was a rare low-scoring encounter.
Despite their struggles, United still has matches against three of the league’s bottom four—Leicester, Ipswich, and Wolves—which could provide an opportunity to boost their scoring numbers. However, they also face nearly all of the top teams, except Liverpool. Given their poor record against stronger opposition, these matches could further complicate their season.