A bad season just keeps on getting worse for Manchester United.
The 20-time English champion was routed 4-0 by Crystal Palace on Monday and faces the prospect of its lowest finish in the Premier League era, as well as a season without European soccer.
Champions League qualification was already beyond Erik ten Hag’s troubled team before its latest defeat. Now, sitting eighth in the standings, even the third-tier Conference League could end up out of reach.
On current form, United might need to beat Manchester City in this month’s FA Cup final to secure a place in the Europa League. On current form, there is little chance of that happening.
One of the world’s most storied clubs is in a mess and the humiliation at the hands of Palace was the latest evidence of that.
A record of 13 league defeats is the most United has suffered in a Premier League campaign. In all competitions that number rises to 18, including four losses in six games as United crashed out of the Champions League at the group stage.
Ten Hag’s team has conceded 81 goals in all competitions, which is the most since 1976-77.
According to stats company Opta, United has also spent more time in a losing position in league games this season than a winning one.
Its only win in its last seven league games was against last-placed Sheffield United.
United’s lowest finish in the Premier League era - which it long dominated, winning 13 titles under former manager Alex Ferguson - was seventh under David Moyes in 2013-14.
Here are some of the reasons behind United’s fall this season.
INJURIES: United’s substitutes’ bench against Palace included six teenagers and two goalkeepers, such is the level of the injury crisis which has gripped Ten Hag’s team. Jonny Evans, the veteran 36-year-old center back, was rushed back from injury to cover for the absent Harry Maguire and midfielder Casemiro had to play as a makeshift defender.
It has been the story of United’s season with key players ruled out for long periods, including Luke Shaw, Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount, Casemiro, Christian Eriksen, Rasmus Hojlund and Marcus Rashford.
Yet United is not the only team to suffer from injuries, with Liverpool and Newcastle also seeing their squads decimated by absences. Even Ten Hag accepted there was no excuse for Monday’s performance.
“The players who were available should do better. It’s a deserved defeat,” he said.
TACTICS: Last season United had one of the meanest defenses in the Premier League, with only treble-winning City and Newcastle conceding fewer goals.
It’s been a very different story in Ten Hag’s second season in charge, with the openness of his team a consistent problem.
To compound the issue, United has found goals hard to come by at the other end of the field. A total of 52 scored is the joint lowest in the top half of the standings, level with 10th-place Bournemouth. Luton - which is in the relegation zone - has scored 49.
United is too open in midfield, too fragile in defense and not potent enough in attack. And it falls on Ten Hag to come up with the solutions.
