How Man Utd’s poor record versus Big Six rivals compares…

Ian Watson
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer Man Utd

Manchester United have now completed the first half of their fixture programme against Big Six rivals having failed to win any of their five games. After being thrashed 6-1 by Tottenham, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have drawn 0-0 with Chelsea and Manchester City at Old Trafford, while taking a point from a goalless draw at Liverpool. Their other defeat came at home to Arsenal.

With three points from five games, they have averaged 0.6 PPG against their biggest rivals. Should that rate continue through the season, they would finish with six points from 30 available. The worst record of the last 10 champions is 16 points against other big six sides, which suggests you can’t win the Premier League title simply by beating mid-table and bottom-half opposition.

United’s fortunes have flipped since Solskjaer’s first year in charge. Between December 2018 and the end of 2019, United won 7 of 13 games against Big Six rivals in all competitions at a rate of 1.92 PPG.

This season, only seventh-placed Chelsea have fared worse than United in games against Big Six rivals. In contrast, Liverpool are matching their record from last season, with Spurs enjoying similar success against the big hitters. With all sides having played each other once, here’s the record for comparison:

Liverpool: W3, D2, L0 – 11 points (2.2 PPG)
Tottenham: W3, D1, L1 – 10 points (2.2 PPG)
Man City: W2, D2, L1 – 8 points (1.6 PPG)
Arsenal: W2, D0, L3 – 6 points (1.2 PPG)
Man Utd: W0, D3, L2 – 3 points (0.6 PPG)
Chelsea: W0, D2, L3 – 2 points (0.4 PPG)


16 Conclusions: Liverpool 0-0 Man Utd


The average number of points per game Premier League champions have gained from Big Six opponents over the last 10 years is 1.94. United would have to win four of the five games remaining against Big Six sides to match Leicester’s 10-year low of 1.42 PPG come the end of the season.

Here’s how the last 10 champions rank for points claimed from Big Six rivals:

1) 2018/19: Manchester City – 25 points (2.5 PPG)
W8, D1, L1
Arsenal (5th): 3-1, 2-0
Chelsea (3rd): 6-0, 0-2
Liverpool (2nd): 2-1, 0-0
Man Utd (6th): 3-1, 2-0
Tottenham (4th): 1-0, 1-0

2) 2017/18: Manchester City – 24 points (2.4 PPG)
W8, D0, L2
Arsenal (6th): 3-1, 3-0
Chelsea (5th): 1-0, 1-0
Liverpool (4th): 5-0, 3-4
Man Utd (2nd): 2-3, 2-1
Tottenham (3rd): 4-1, 3-1

=3) 2011/12: Manchester City – 22 points (2.2 PPG)
W7, D1, L2
Arsenal (3rd): 1-0, 0-1
Chelsea (6th): 2-1, 1-2
Liverpool (8th): 3-0, 1-1
Man Utd (2nd): 1-0, 6-1
Tottenham (4th): 3-2, 5-1

=3) 2019/20: Liverpool – 22 points (2.2 PPG)
W7, D1, L2
Arsenal: 3-1, 1-2
Chelsea: 5-3, 2-1
Man City: 3-1, 0-4
Man Utd: 2-0, 1-1
Tottenham: 2-1, 1-0

5) 2013/14: Manchester City – 19 points (1.9 PPG)
W6, D1, L3
Arsenal (4th): 6-3, 1-1
Chelsea (3rd): 0-1, 1-2
Liverpool (2nd): 2-1, 2-3
Man Utd (7th): 4-1, 3-0
Tottenham (6th): 6-0, 5-1

6) 2010/11: Manchester United – 18 points  (1.8 PPG)
W5, D3, L2
Arsenal (4th): 1-0, 0-1
Chelsea (2nd): 2-1, 1-2
Liverpool (6th): 3-2, 1-3
Man City (3rd): 2-1, 0-0
Tottenham (5th): 2-0, 0-0

=7) 2014/15: Chelsea – 17 points (1.7 PPG)
W4, D5, L1
Arsenal (3rd): 2-0, 0-0
Man City (2nd): 1-1, 1-1
Liverpool (6th): 1-1, 2-1
Man Utd (4th): 1-0, 1-1
Tottenham (5th): 3-0, 3-5

=7) 2012/13: Manchester United – 17 points (1.7 PPG)
W5, D2, L3
Arsenal (4th): 2-1, 1-1
Chelsea (3rd): 0-1, 3-2
Liverpool (7th): 2-1, 2-1
Man City (2nd): 1-2, 3-2
Tottenham (5th): 2-3, 1-1

9) 2016/17: Chelsea – 16 points (1.6 PPG)
W5, D1, L4
Arsenal (5th): 3-1, 0-3
Liverpool (4th): 1-2, 1-1
Man City (3rd): 2-1, 3-1
Man Utd (6th): 4-0, 0-2
Tottenham (2nd): 2-1, 0-2

10) 2015/16: Leicester – 17 points (1.42 PPG) 
W4, D5, L3
Arsenal (2nd): 2-5, 1-2
Chelsea (10th): 2-1, 1-1
Liverpool (8th): 2-0, 0-1
Man City (4th): 0-0, 3-1
Man Utd (5th): 1-1, 1-1
Tottenham (3rd): 1-1, 1-0