When Erik ten Hag was appointed as Manchester United’s new manager in the summer of 2022, there was a fresh sense of optimism cast over the Red Devils. The Dutchman came to Old Trafford sporting a no-nonsense approach, and many believed he would finally get United firing on all cylinders again.
However, things don’t always turn out the way many in the red half of Manchester planned. Ten Hag done well to get United back in to the top four, albeit with disruptions to his squad throughout the 2022/23 season, but their away form against the sides around them in the league has proven to be a huge cause for concern.
In his time at the club, Ten Hag has failed to see the Red Devils prove successful on the road against the teams in the top nine. But why is that? Here at SportsLens, we try to analyse just why Manchester United have been so bad away from Old Trafford.
Manchester Utd’s Poor Form Away From Home
Manchester United’s first defeat to a top nine side came against Brentford in August 2022. The Red Devils were trounced 4-0 by the west Londoners, with all four goals coming between the 10th and 35th minute. Their next defeat came in the Manchester derby at the Etihad, this time Erik ten Hag’s side shipped six goals.
Unai Emery’s first game as Aston Villa boss saw United slip to a 3-1 defeat when they had in fact been on a good run going into the fixture at Villa Park. A late 3-2 defeat to Arsenal followed shortly after that and admittedly, they did play a lot better than earlier in the season.
The worst away defeat to a top nine Premier League side happened at Anfield. Ten Hag’s side were utterly humiliated in their 7-0 hammering against Liverpool. It provided a stark reminder of how far they’d fallen since the Sir Alex Ferguson era. A 1-0 loss to Newcastle in the North East soon followed.
A fairly credible draw against Tottenham provided a more positive outlook away from home but they finished the 2022/23 campaign with just a solitary point against the Premier League’s top nine. A last-gasp defeat at Brighton compounded their misery.
Man Uniteds away form against the top 9 is shocking under Erik Ten Hag 🤯😳 pic.twitter.com/qQmizxIsIY
— football b*stards (@FootballBstards) December 4, 2023
Erik ten Hag’s Premier League Record In 2023/24
Fastforward to the 2023/24 Premier League season and results on the road have been just as bleak for Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United. After a nervy 1-0 victory against Wolves on the opening day, their first fixture on the road saw them succumb to a 2-0 defeat to a new-look Tottenham side in north London.
Staying in north London, albeit the red half this time, two late goals from Arsenal gave the Gunners a 3-1 win against United at the Emirates to inflict back-to-back defeats against the Premier League’s top nine for Ten Hag and his players. Another abysmal start on the road was developing.
Their latest and most recent defeat came against Newcastle at St James’ Park in December 2023. Anthony Gordon – who also netted a winner against the Gunners weeks earlier – gave the Magpies the win but if truth be told, it could and should have been a much larger scoreline.
On match week 17, United return to Anfield and will be without captain Bruno Fernandes as they try to get one over their great rivals Liverpool. Ahead of the match, the best UK betting sites make the Reds the favourites at 1/3, the draw is 26/5 and the Red Devils can be backed at 17/2.
Erik Ten Hag’s Record Against The Top Nine
- Lost 1-0 vs Newcastle United (2023/24)
- Lost 3-1 vs Arsenal (2023/24)
- Lost 2-0 vs Tottenham (2023/24)
- Drew 2-2 vs Tottenham (2022/23)
- Lost 2-0 vs Newcastle (2022/23)
- Lost 1-0 vs Brighton (2022/23)
- Lost 7-0 vs Liverpool (2022/23)
- Lost 3-2 vs Arsenal (2022/23)
- Lost 3-1 vs Aston Villa (2022/23)
- Lost 6-3 vs Man City (2022/23)
- Lost 4-0 vs Brentford (2022/23)
How Can Erik ten Hag Correct Poor Away Form?
It’s not easy trying to pinpoint just why Erik Ten Hag has struggled badly against the Premier League’s top nine away from home but it can simply be put down to the fact that he isn’t motivating the side properly. With that in mind, they have had positive results on home soil but it’s almost as if the players completely freeze on the road.
This is something Ten Hag must fix. Quickly. He has had internal squad issues with Cristiano Ronaldo, Mason Greenwood and Jadon Sancho to comprehend, which have acted as a distraction but they have since been dealt with. Is he using the wrong players? Is their approach wrong? Is it something else?
Whatever it is, the Manchester United fans will undoubtedly be sick and tired of such lethargic and often embarrassing showings away from Old Trafford. What would get them back onside is a positive result against Liverpool. Admittedly, it’s unlikely but Ten Hag at least needs to show positivity in order to get United back on track on the road.
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