Man Utd's biggest Premier League defeats

United have endured some pretty humiliating defeats
United have endured some pretty humiliating defeats / Alex Livesey - Danehouse/GettyImages
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Manchester United are the most successful side in Premier League history, scooping 13 titles under the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson.

But despite dominating the division for the best part of two decades, the Red Devils have also taken a fair few pastings over the years - in some case surrendering meekly on their own patch to some of their biggest rivals.

Sure, they've dished out the punishment far more than they've received it, but the history books remind us of a number of days United fans will wish they could forget...


10. Middlesbrough 4-1 Man Utd (29 October, 2005)

Roy Keane never played for United again after the Middlesbrough defeat
Roy Keane never played for United again after the Middlesbrough defeat / Clive Brunskill/Getty Images

Middlesbrough's 4-1 mauling in 2005 was the final time we saw Roy Keane pull on a Manchester United shift.

After the game, the Irishman delivered a scathing assessment of United's crop of players to MUTV - one that didn't go down with, well, anybody.

Gaizka Mendieta was the hero of the day, scoring twice and assisting one, and his standout performance rendered a goal from a yount Cristiano Ronaldo completely irrelevant.


9. Man Utd 1-4 Liverpool (14 March, 2009)

Torres, Gerrard and co. thrashed United to seven points clear at the  top of the table in 2009
Torres, Gerrard and co. thrashed United to seven points clear at the top of the table in 2009 / ANDREW YATES/Getty Images

Preceded by Rafa Benitez's famous 'facts' speech, Liverpool came to the Theatre of Dreams in March 2009 and appeared to destroy United's ambitions of winning a third consecutive Premier League title.

Fernando Torres gave Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic the run-around, Andrea Dossena scored a wonderful goal and Steven Gerrard kissed the camera.

It was United’s heaviest home defeat in 17 years at the time, and it opened up a seven-point gap at the top of the table. The Reds couldn't hang on, though.


8. Southampton 6-3 Man Utd (26 October, 1996)

A Matt Le Tissier masterclass inspired a big win for the Saints
A Matt Le Tissier masterclass inspired a big win for the Saints / Getty Images/Getty Images

This match was played six months after the 'grey shirt' fiasco, when United lost 3-1 and changed their away kit at half-time amid claims their players couldn’t see each other.

This time, there could be no such excuses.

Matt Le Tissier chipped in a delightful pick of the goals as Southampton pulled off a remarkable 6-3 victory against a team consisting of Peter Schmeichel, Roy Keane and Eric Cantona, as well as the majority of the class of '92. Not pretty viewing.


7. Chelsea 4-0 Man Utd (23 October, 2016)

Hazard got the third goal in Chelsea's impressive victory
Hazard got the third goal in Chelsea's impressive victory / Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images

It was meant to be a day to remember for Jose Mourinho as he returned to Stamford Bridge for the first time as United's new manager in 2016, and it really was - however, it was for all the wrong reasons.

A 4-0 spanking - which could and should have been more - courtesy of Pedro, Gary Cahill, Eden Hazard and even N'Golo Kante delivered a knockout punch from Antonio Conte's Chelsea, and highlighted real defensive weakness at United.

Somehow, Mourinho delivered a 25-game unbeaten run later in the season, but United still finished just sixth - thankfully winning the Europa League to save face.


6. Everton 4-0 Man Utd (21 April, 2019)

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
There were some sagging shoulders on display in this defeat / Alex Livesey/Getty Images

A top four spot really was there for the taking towards the end of the 2018/19 season, but United decided against making a push for it - and instead decided to get walloped by Everton on Easter Sunday.

Richarlison, Gylfi Sigurdsson, Lucas Digne and Theo Walcott were the four to get on the scoresheet, allowing *checks notes* Marco Silva to enjoy the bragging rights against a United side who were frankly awful.


5. Newcastle 5-0 Man Utd (20 October, 1996)

Alan Shearer and Les Ferdinand scored for Newcastle in 1996
Alan Shearer and Les Ferdinand scored for Newcastle in 1996 / Ben Radford/Getty Images

A trip to St. James' Park was the beginning of an awful week for United in October 1996.

Darren Peacock, David Ginola, Les Ferdinand and Alan Shearer were the goalscorers before Philippe Albert's iconic - and divine - chip sealed a sensational 5-0 win, a defeat that Sir Alex Ferguson blamed on his side's midweek trip to Turkey in the Champions League.

The thrashing was compounded by that 6-3 defeat to Southampton, which came just a few days later.


4. Chelsea 5-0 Man Utd (October 3, 1999)

Gustavo Poyet scored after just 27 seconds
Gustavo Poyet scored after just 27 seconds / Ben Radford/Getty Images

On a 29-game unbeaten run just months after securing their famous treble, United imploded in impressive style at Chelsea in 1999 - before they were big time.

Gus Poyet scored after just 27 seconds, Massimo Taibi - wearing some sexy trousers - ended his United career before it had even begun (kicking off a nightmare spell of replacements for Schmeichel) while Nicky Butt was sent off for a petulant kick on tiny little Dennis Wise.

All in all, a pretty bleak day.


3. Man Utd 0-5 Liverpool (24 October, 2021)

bruno fernandes
United were humiliated by bitter rivals Liverpool / Alex Livesey - Danehouse/GettyImages

United's form had already taken a bit of a tumble by the time Jurgen Klopp's rampant Liverpool rode into town.

What followed was one of the most embarrassing first half displays from United as Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side were completely outclassed. 4-0 down at the break, courtesy of more Mohamed Salah magic, the hosts were rightly booed off - though it did little to turn the tide of the game.

The Reds added a fifth not long after the break, Salah sealed a hat-trick, and United were left licking some rather raw wounds.


2. Man Utd 1-6 Man City (23 October, 2011)

Manchester City's Italian striker Mario
Mario Balotelli's iconic 'Why Always Me?' celebration / ANDREW YATES/GettyImages

Who could forget the most famous Manchester derby in the Premier League era?

Roberto Mancini's City arrived at Old Trafford in October 2011 dubbed as the 'noisy neighbours' but they made themselves heard here - inflicting United's worst home defeat since 1955 with a 6-1 annihilation.

It was also the first time United had conceded six or more at home since 1931, and featured one of the most iconic celebrations of all time...


1. Man Utd 1-6 Tottenham (4 October, 2020)

Spurs humiliated United on Sunday
Spurs humiliated United on Sunday / Alex Livesey/Getty Images

Many predicted United's reunion with Jose Mourinho, Tottenham's boss in the early stages of the 2020/21 campaign, to be a cagey, nervy affair.

What it turned out to be was Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's 'worst day as Manchester United' manager' as Tottenham ran riot to humiliate the Red Devils 6-1 on their own turf.

To make matters worse, Anthony Martial fell into the ultimate Erik Lamela trap, being goaded into a red card offence by the manipulative, cheeky Argentine.