Manchester United’s recent loss to Crystal Palace serves as a stark reminder of their gradual decline since Sir Alex Ferguson’s reign. SportsLens has compiled a ranking of the five most embarrassing defeats endured by the club since Ferguson’s departure.
Monday’s humiliating defeat at Selhurst Park wasn’t shocking to many Manchester United supporters. When you persistently make the same tactical errors, hoping for a different outcome through repetition, such embarrassments become predictable.
United’s current team falls far short of the formidable legacy crafted under Sir Alex Ferguson’s 27-year reign. Erik ten Hag appears to be the latest manager destined to falter in replicating Ferguson’s accomplishments.
After Monday’s 4-0 loss to Crystal Palace, we have created a list of the five most embarrassing defeats since Sir Alex Ferguson retired.
The 5 Most Embarrassing Defeats Since Sir Alex Ferguson Retired
5. Manchester United 0-5 Liverpool (October 24th, 2021)
In October 2021, the Merseyside Reds delivered a devastating blow to their rivals, causing Manchester United to suffer their worst-ever home loss in this fixture and the first time they conceded five goals at home without reply in a competitive match since 1955.
Mohamed Salah completed his hat-trick with the final three goals in the 5-0 win, making him the first Liverpool player to achieve a hat-trick at Old Trafford since Fred Howe’s in 1936. Salah stands as the top scorer in the extensive history of this iconic fixture.
4. Watford 4-1 Manchester United (November 20th, 2021)
Despite enduring several humiliating defeats, Solskjaer remained in charge of Manchester United for two full seasons before his tenure reached a breaking point in the first half of the 2021/22 season.
A humiliating 4-1 defeat away to Watford, a team bound for relegation, signalled the conclusion of the Norwegian’s tenure. He was sacked the day after the match.
Goalkeeper David de Gea grimly portrayed the match as a succession of nightmares, mirroring Manchester United’s darkest moments since Ferguson’s retirement.
3. Manchester United 1-6 Tottenham Hotspur (October 4th, 2020)
Spurs hit Man Utd for 𝐒𝐈𝐗 😲#MUNTOT pic.twitter.com/uWEHoFf6kp
— Premier League (@premierleague) October 4, 2020
This is the sole entry in the list that occurred during lockdown, sparing United fans from witnessing their team’s collapse firsthand at the stadium.
The Red Devils conceded six goals to a Tottenham side led by Jose Mourinho, who undoubtedly relished his comeback at Old Trafford.
At that moment, it marked Manchester United’s most significant defeat since Sir Alex Ferguson concluded his managerial tenure.
2. Brentford 4-0 Manchester United (August 13th, 2022)
Ten Hag had just taken over at Old Trafford when he was swiftly presented with a vivid and challenging preview of the task ahead.
The Bees ruthlessly sliced through Ten Hag’s unorganised team and established a commanding 4-0 lead within the first 35 minutes.
It was a case of a well-organised, efficiently controlled operation outplaying a chaotic one. For the many United fans leaving the stadium at halftime, it was further proof of their club’s decline under Glazer ownership for 17 years.
1. Liverpool 7-0 Manchester United (March 5th, 2023)
Suffering your biggest defeat against your fiercest rival is unparalleled humiliation. In the first half, the two archrivals battled evenly, with Liverpool leading 1-0 at halftime.
However, shortly into the second half, it was evident that the United players struggled to cope with the relentless atmosphere at Anfield, and Liverpool capitalised on this weakness with ruthless efficiency.
Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez, and Mohamed Salah each scored twice, while Roberto Firmino also found the net in his last encounter against the Red Devils. This match marked Manchester United’s most significant defeat in the 128-year history of the fixture.
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