Jose Mourinho is on course to steer his Manchester United side toward a club record winning streak.
His side clocked up their ninth successive victory as they took care of Hull City 2-0 in the first-leg of their EFL Cup semi-final – but just how impressive is this current run of form?
The numbers suggest they’re on track to rival one of the best United sides ever – Sir Alex Ferguson’s 2009 squad achieved eleven straight wins en route to the club’s 18th league title.
The question, however, still remains; is beating a crop of teams outside the top half of the Premier League really that impressive?
There’s no denying that picking up points against lesser-ranked opponents is crucial to any top team vying for the title, but so is taking points off those you’re competing with.
A 1-1 draw at home to Arsenal, who we all know don’t travel well to big teams, was arguably their best performance of the season against a title contender.
They took another point in their 0-0 stalemate against Liverpool at Anfield, where it was clear Mourinho had no intention of stealing a win against their old foes and had the hands of David de Gea to thank for their clean sheet.
A 4-0 mauling on Mourinho’s return to Stamford Bridge exemplified just how far off the face this team was from the now league leaders – even more, insulting to the Portuguese manager’s evening was the fact is was done by the squad he failed to properly manage 12 months earlier.
A 2-1 loss in the Manchester Derby in front of their home crowd proved another reminder that not only are they a far cry from being the best in the land, they’re still well off being the best team in their city.
Their 1-0 win over Tottenham provided some hope that this side may yet be able to compete with the league’s top teams, and it came at a time when Mourinho had already had “sufficient time” to implement his playing style on the team.
After struggling to stamp their authority on the league against those around them they’ve since gone on to dispose of powerhouses Zorya Luhansk, Sunderland, Crystal Palace, Middlesbrough, Reading, West Brom, West Ham and now Hull.
Routine wins against teams struggling for any consistency themselves, and even then they were far from convincing throughout this past month.
With the calibre of players at their disposal, there is no denying Mourinho will have them competing on all fronts for the remainder of the season.
They’ll be difficult to break down and will score goals as long as Zlatan Ibrahimovic remains on the field. But do they deserve to be mentioned alongside the teams led by Sir Alex Ferguson?
Absolutely not.
They’re a far cry from the squads that came before them and remain some way off being genuine title contenders.
MCRR
Guest
Not sure what angle Josh is coming from. Are United good enough to win the title...? Not this season, but given the change of football, namely flair, I believe we will be in the top four this season. We destroyed Arsenal and should have bagged 3 or 4. We were stronger than Liverpool at Anfield and recently 'bullied' Spurs into submission. On their day Chelsea and City (spitting whilst I say this) are superior. However, there is depth, and to think this is far from Mourinho's finished team!!! This team is a refreshing change to the recent boring torture, however Josh is right when he says previous Fergy teams do not compare.
Human being
Guest
Did you even watch the match against city? Hahaha you are mental. City didn't even touch the ball after the break and united were unlucky to not score 2-3 more goals than they did.
Human being
Guest
Only reason united are 6th is because of an unlucky run earlier on in the season.Draws with Liverpool and arsenal (which we should of won) and beating Tottenham shows that we can compete with the top 5. We also played an unlucky game against city, we were lucky to not have a draw. Only bad game against a top 5 team was Chelsea. You have to realise that we are only 5 points behind Liverpool, and they are easily beatable. This article is a pathetic attack on man united and only someone delusional would agree with you that united can't pose a threat to the top 5.
no one
Guest
Outplayed by Tottenham? Yeah, United were outplayed by a team that couldn't even manage to score. Tottenham had to rely on desperate long range shots by Erickson and Son because they couldn't get anywhere near the goal.
aladdin sane
Guest
the form of others? Everyone else (Chelsea aside) are dropping points! United were 12 points behind Arsenal a month ago and now they're two points behind! You say they've had a soft run, but that's kinda how you win the league, by beating sides you should beat. The top 6 will all take points off each other, the winner of the title is normally the one who does the best job of winning the rest.
aladdin sane
Guest
last nine games they've won them all and scored 20, conceding only three. The assertion that United 'don't look like contenders' is completely inaccurate if you take into consideration their very slow start (worst start in 20-odd years). And despite that start, they're still only 10 points off the top, five off second with half a season to play.
Nemesis
Guest
"They were outplayed at home by Tottenham" Disagree. Just out of interest which EPL team do you support? I support Man United.
Josh Chahal
Roar Rookie
They have not played like champions in the past six matches just because they've won all their games. They were outplayed at home by Tottenham, who probably didn't create enough to win but had majority possession and dictated the pace of the game. Beating the lower teams unconvincingly is far from a champion side. They had a great run of fixtures over Christmas and did well to maximise their return, but I'll say it again, they're a far cry from the teams above them
Nemesis
Guest
Are United playing like Champions? Depends on the terms of reference. All season? No In the past 6 matches? Yes. In fact, during the past 6 matches, United has been the most successful team in the EPL. Spurs looked very good against Chelsea, but I saw United beat Spurs to start this 6 match unbeaten run.
Josh Chahal
Roar Rookie
You say that like LVG and Moyes set such a standard post-Ferguson? Only the woodwork and Bravo denied United a point in the derby? You're mental - they were extremely lucky not to have conceded three or four themselves. The point is they're not playing like champions at all. You point to all these times they've undeservedly dropped points, but it works both ways for them this season. They had no right to beat Crystal Palace and got lucky to snatch a winner there. They were far from the better team in the opening 45 minutes against West Ham and can thank the referee for allowing them to play with an extra man for the better part of an hour. They were very lucky to steal a late winner at Hull. Champions get results even when they're not at their best. If you're saying United are playing so well and not picking up the points then that's as alarming as anything
Doc Disnick
Roar Guru
GD is one of the best indicators of a potential premier. Sharp drop away when you hit United on the ladder.
Nemesis
Guest
Disagree with everything in this article. United are playing the best football since Ferguson left. It's a joy to watch them playing. Sure, they started very slowly - the draw against Liverpool was dire but Mourinho knew what LFC were capable of doing at Anfield & he got the result he wanted. United have lost 3 matches. Same as Chelsea. 1 fewer loss than ManCity. Whom have United lost to? Chelsea - no complaints. Got totally smashed. Watford - no complaints. ManCity - a shocking opening 30' and City rightfully scored twice. Thereafter, United were superb. Knocked the ball around with ease. Got behind the City defence whenever they wanted. Only the woodwork & Bravo stopped Utd getting at least a point that day. United totally smashed Arsenal at Old Trafford - even Wenger admitted it & Wenger despises Mourinho. But, a late late equaliser from Giroud meant 2 pts dropped. United beat Spurs. The only reason United is not 2nd on the table has nothing to do with how United is playing. You can play like Champions & still not score. That's football.
Josh Chahal
Roar Rookie
You can make a compilation like that regarding any and every team across Europe, just like you can psycho-analyse every team and work out points that were undeservedly dropped. Liverpool were incredibly unlucky at home to West Ham and away at Tottenham = 4 points Arsenal were incredibly unlucky against Middlesbrough and Leicester earlier this season = 4 points Man City were unlucky against Chelsea not to secure a win, as well as against Everton and Southampton = 7 points Luck is one thing but playing style and calibre is something else entirely. Anyone watching can see United aren't of the same class as those five teams above them at the moment
jonnie b
Guest
https://streamable.com/dolkd sure thing also Chelsea luck going their way? Do you remember at the begining of the season when Diego Costa got lucky for not being sent off there were 2 matches in a row. Utd this season were ridiciliously unlucky at times dominating matches and then dropping points (Stoke, Burnley, Arsenal - thats 6 points dropped!!!)
Josh Chahal
Roar Rookie
You thought they'd be worse off than sixth? I understand it takes time to break the structure from a previous regime but to say they'd be on Chelsea's heels with a little more luck is scraping the barrel. Every team around them has had their fair share of unlucky streaks bar Chelsea, which is why they are where they are. Luck works both ways, and having a player undeservedly sent off at West Ham certainly aided them, as did their offside goal against Palace. Again, theoretically they're still in with a chance but they aren't at the playing calibre of those above them Theoretically they're still in contention but when you rank them against those around them, based on the form of others and their match ups this season then yes, they are some way off being legitimate challengers.
Chris
Roar Pro
Chelsea should still win the title- they have the look about them that most premiers do around this time. The only others that will challenge will be Arsenal or Liverpool, they've remained consistently dangerous when on song, so should be up there, but Chelsea will angle towards the title through the wizardry of Hazard and the expertise of Costa.
aladdin sane
Guest
Don't know how you can possibly say they remain some way off being title contenders? Very slow start, granted, but coming off the back of LVG's rigid structure was always going to take some doing. Actually think they're ahead at the moment of where I thought they'd be. Given they've also hit the post 19 times this year, with a bit more luck they'd be at Chelsea's heels at the moment. Chelsea still look great and deserve their favourites tag, but to say United aren't in contention is silly - it's 10 points with half a season to play.