2020–21 Manchester United F.C. season

The 2020–21 season is Manchester United’s 29th season in the Premier League. It is the club’s 46th consecutive year in the top flight of English football. United’s opening match of the season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The final game of the 2019–20 season was on 16 August.

About 2020–21 Manchester United F.C. season in brief

Summary 2020–21 Manchester United F.C. seasonThe 2020–21 season is Manchester United’s 29th season in the Premier League. It is the club’s 46th consecutive year in the top flight of English football. The club will also take part in the FA Cup and the UEFA Europa League. United’s opening match of the season was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. They began their season at home to Crystal Palace on 19 September. The following week, they came back from a goal down to beat Brighton & Hove Albion. On 1 November, United played rival Arsenal at Old Trafford for the first time since 2006. On 24 October, United were held to a goalless draw by Chelsea. The result meant the club had failed to win any of their first three league games for first time in 1972–73. The next day, United travelled to Everton and won 3–1; Edinson Cavani scored his first league goal of the year. The final game of the 2019–20 season was on 16 August; United won 2–1 away to Aston Villa. The match was postponed to ensure a minimum of 30 days between seasons, as per Premier League regulations. Manchester United played just one friendly before the start of their 2020 21 Premier League season. The game was against Aston Villa on 12 September 2020; Ollie Watkins scored the only goal in the 16th minute. It was United’s 10,000th goal in club history; it was scored by Marcus Rashford in the sixth minute of added time. United won their first Premier League match on 4 October; they beat Tottenham Hotspur 3-1.

The win was their first in the league since November 2012; they had not won a league match since the 2012–13 season. They also won the EFL Cup and FA Cup; they have not lost a league game since the 2013–14 season. United have won their last four Premier League matches; they are unbeaten in their last six league matches. They have lost just one of their last eight Premier League games in all competitions (W4 D4 L4). The club have lost only one Premier League game in the last five years. The last time they lost in the first half of a league season was in April 2014; they lost 2-1 at home against West Ham United. The defeat was the heaviest defeat under Ole Gunnar Solskjær as manager or Ed Woodward as executive vice-chairman. United also lost the Manchester derby in 2011, as well as the Manchester City derby in April 2013. United are yet to lose a Premier League home match in 2018–19; the last time was in March. The team have lost two Premier League away matches in a row (W2 D2 L1). United have only lost one league match in the second half of the last season (W1 D1 L2). The team has lost just once in its last six Premier League appearances in all competition. The only defeat in this period was a 3-0 defeat at the hands of Newcastle United in September.