Six of United’s worst Premier League defeats.With Manchester United falling to a shock 5-3 defeat away to Leicester City yesterday, CaughtOffside looks at how it ranks in the club’s worst and most humiliating losses in the Premier League era.
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United rarely lose heavily, but even their best sides fell to some embarrassing scorelines, with six notable ones picked out here:
6) Manchester United 1-4 Liverpool
Although Manchester United went on to win the Premier League in 2008/09, they faced strong competition from rivals Liverpool, who were determined to take the title race down to the wire as they put in a superb performance at Old Trafford. Cristiano Ronaldo gave the Red Devils an early lead, but then it all went wrong for Sir Alex Ferguson’s side as Fernando Torres found an equaliser and Steven Gerrard scored from the penalty spot to put the visitors ahead at half time. The Reds ran away with it in the second half, scoring two more through Fabio Aurelio and Andrea Dossena. This must go down as one of Rafael Benitez’s finest Premier League victories, but it wasn’t enough to deliver a long-awaited title to Anfield.
5) Middlesbrough 4-1 Manchester United
A terrible performance from a United team in transition back in 2005, Ferguson’s team were dismantled 4-1 by Middlesbrough, who had taken an incredible 4-0 lead at the Riverside Stadium. Spanish legend Gaizka Mendieta scored twice, while further goals from Yakbub and Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink completed the rout, with Cristiano Ronaldo netting a late consolation for the visitors.
4) Leicester City 5-3 Manchester United
Strong words, but this weekend’s capitulation at Leicester City has to be up there with the very worst we’ve seen from United in the modern era. The Red Devils lost a two-goal lead for the first time in the Premier League, and their defence was simply shocking as this newly-promoted side ran rings around them in an incredible second half. A game that looked like a certain win became a humiliating defeat and this will surely go down as a real classic, though it leaves Louis van Gaal with some serious work to do.
3) Chelsea 5-0 Manchester United
A day to forget at Stamford Bridge back in 2000, as United are thrashed by Chelsea to see a 29-game unbeaten run come to an end. Legends such as David Beckham, Paul Scholes and Dwight Yorke of that famous United team were present, but unable to stop the Blues running riot and inflicting a heavily one-sided scoreline in London.
2) Newcastle United 5-0 Manchester United
Famous for a glorious goal from Newcastle United’s Philippe Albert, United were also on the wrong end of a 5-0 scoreline at St James’ Park back in 1996. This looked like giving Kevin Kegan’s men real momentum in the title race, though it did not prove enough to stop Ferguson’s all-conquering side coming out on top of the table again.
1) Manchester United 1-6 Manchester City
United’s heaviest ever defeat in the Premier League, Manchester City inflicted an incredible 6-1 win over their neighbours at Old Trafford in their title-winning season of 2011/12. Mario Balotelli scored twice and coined his famous ‘Why always me?’ slogan under his t-shirt, while further goals from Sergio Aguero, David Silva and Edin Dzeko completed a memorable win for Roberto Mancini’s side. Ferguson called it his worst day in management, and it ended up costing them as City won the title on goal difference on the final day of the season.