MANCHESTER UNITED are tipped for their worst-ever Premier League finish this season, according to a supercomputer.
The Red Devils ended the 2023-24 campaign in eighth under Erik ten Hag, their lowest final position since the league’s formation in 1992-93.
But they spent Christmas Day in the bottom half of the table for the first time in the Premier League this year.
And their Boxing Day defeat at Wolves only heaped more misery on everyone connected with the club.
Now, Opta’s number-crunching machine has given its predictions for the rest of the season.
And it does not make pretty reading for United.
That is because Opta believe the Red Devils are most likely to finish all the way down in 12th.
According to the figures, their chances of ending up in 12th are 13.7 per cent.
Then it is 13.3 per cent for 13th, 13.1 per cent for 11th and 11.2 per cent to sneak into the top half in tenth.
Ruben Amorim’s side are just about as likely to be ninth (9.6 per cent) or 14th (9.7 per cent) after 38 matches.
FOOTBALL FREE BETS AND SIGN UP DEALS
And most worryingly, the struggling fallen giants have a greater chance of getting relegated – 0.1 per cent to finish 18th – than winning the title or finishing second, 0.0 per cent.
United currently sit 14th in the table with just 22 points from their 18 Premier League matches – with six wins, four draws, eight defeats and a goal difference of -3.
Their nightmare week was compounded at Wolves as they lost their third match in a row.
The club were dumped out of the Carabao Cup by Tottenham before a 3-0 thumping at home to Bournemouth and then the shock 2-0 defeat to the struggling Molineux side.
Their chances of beating Wolves were not helped by Bruno Fernandes being sent off for the third time this season but nevertheless the woeful performance sparked boos from the travelling supporters and further fan fury online.
Amorim’s men now sit just eight points clear of Leicester in the relegation zone – and a whopping 20 off leaders Liverpool before reaching the midway point of the season.
The Opta numbers unsurprisingly have Liverpool as the heavy favourites to hold on to their commanding lead.
The Reds are 88.0 per cent to finish top of the table at the end of the season – with Arsenal (10.3 per cent), Chelsea (1.5 per cent) and Manchester City (0.3 per cent) making up the remainder.
Arsenal are most likely to finish second with Chelsea tipped for third and City squeezing into the top four.
At the other end of the table, the promoted trio of Southampton, Ipswich and Leicester seem set to go straight back down.
By Ken Lawrence
WOLVES landed a shock Boxing Day knockout as Manchester United’s struggles continued.
The 2-0 defeat means Ruben Amorim has won just two of the seven Premier League games he has taken charge of.
United find themselves 14th in the table and today were not helped by Bruno Fernandes’ red card and Andre Onana letting one in direct from a corner.
Here is how SunSport rated the performances…
ANDRE ONANA: 4
He needed to make an agile save from Jorgen Strand Larsen in the first half, but badly misjudged the flight of Cunha’s corner for the opening goal – his claim that he was obstructed by Matt Doherty was rejected.
LENY YORO: 5
Recalled but booked after only four minutes for a foul on Cunha, so he was walking on eggshells and was tested by Wolves throughout. Subbed just after the hour mark.
HARRY MAGUIRE: 6
The England defender did his best to keep United in the game when they were under pressure for long periods – at least he helped to stem the tide until the dying seconds and had a header on target in stoppage time.
LISANDRO MARTINEZ: 6
Teamed up well with Maguire to stop Wolves from winning this more easily, he stood his ground and produced some important challenges in the latter stages before Wolves caught him on the break with the last action of the game.
NOUSSAIR MAZRAOUI: 5
Tenacious and determined, but was one of several players given a torrid time by the best player on the pitch – Cunha.
MANUEL UGARTE: 5
Dispossesed too easily at times, struggled against a lively Wolves attack and was eventually taken off as one of Amorim’s subs following Fernandes’ red card.
KOBBIE MAINOO: 5
Looked a threat early on, created some good openings, but he was booked after the break as United looked short on ideas. Faded and was subbed.
DIOGO DALOT: 6
Brought a tremendous save from Jose Sa in the first half in what was a rare bright spot for United – but he had no major influence on a poor team display.
AMAD DIALLO: 5
Lacked awareness of his team-mates sometimes and looked a shadow of the player who turned the Manchester derby around less than two weeks ago.
BRUNO FERNANDES: 3
Sent off early in the second half for a second yellow after a challenge on Nelson Semedo, but the captain had cut a frustrated figure before that.
RASMUS HOJLUND: 5
Became visibly annoyed at times at a lack of service from his team-mates, he had no joy up front and was subbed with 10 minutes left.
SUBS
Casemiro (for Mainoo, 63 mins): 6
Christian Eriksen (for Ugate, 63 mins): 6
Antony (for Yoro, 63 mins): 6
Alejandro Garnacho (for Amad, 79 mins): 5
Joshua Zirkzee (for Hojlund, 79 mins): 5
