Reasons why Manchester Utd's goals have dried up since Sir Alex Ferguson left
Under Sir Alex Ferguson, Manchester United were known as the Premier League's entertainers, sweeping all opponents before them.
And there was 'Fergie time', those precious final minutes drama at the end of the match where it always became inevitable the Stretford End of Old Traffold would suck in a goal to secure the points for the Red Devils.
Recently, those days kind of seem like a long time ago, with United proving to be a fading force in front of goal since Ferguson left the game in 2013.
Instead, at Old Traffold, cries of "attack, attack, attack" are commonplace from the home fans as they urge their team to regain some of their offensive magic.
In the 26 seasons of the Premier League, Saturday's deadlock with Crystal Palace was United's 65th 0-0 draw.
Notably, 20 of those draws - 31% - have come in the six seasons since Ferguson left.
Which is six more than any of their 'big six' rivals over the same period.
The 'big six' Premier League goalless draws since start of 2013-14
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Manchester United
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20
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Chelsea
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14
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Liverpool
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14
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Arsenal
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12
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Manchester City
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12
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Tottenham Hotspur
|
10
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United have employed three managers in that time, David Moyes, Louis van Gaal and now Jose Mourinho. It won't be surprising to realized all three have an inferior goals-per-game ratio than the Scot.
Mourinho's ratio of 1.6 shows an improvement on his predecessor Van Gaal, who averaged 1.46 goals a match during his two-year tenure in charge.
Manchester United's goals-per-game ratio in the Premier League
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Manager
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Games
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Goals
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Goals per game
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Sir Alex Ferguson
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810
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1,627
|
2.01
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David Moyes
|
34
|
56
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1.65
|
Louis van Gaal
|
76
|
111
|
1.46
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Jose Mourinho
|
89
|
142
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1.60
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So far this season, one player who has impressed in front of goal for United is Anthony Martial, with the Frenchman netting six so far.
Despite their struggles, however, they do have a contender for the Golden Boot - but he always face some stiff competition.
Always tight at the top
Last season, Mohamed Salah and Harry Kane dominated the race for the Premier League Golden Boot. Liverpool midfielder Salah won the award with 32 goals - two more than Kane, but their closest competitor, Manchester City's Sergio Aguero, scored nine fewer.
This season is looking to be much more competitive, with four times the number of players on seven goals or more compared to this time of last season.
This time last year, Salah topped the goals chart with 10 goals, two ahead of Lukaku - with Alexandre Lacazette, Jamie Vardy and Leroy Sane the nearest challengers on six.
This season, it is duo of Aguero and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang who lead the way with eight goals, but there are six players behind them on seven.
Aubameyang has the best scoring ratio of the group, averaging a goal every 118 minutes for his club this season.
Premier League top scorers 2018-19
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Player
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Goals
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Assists
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Minutes per goal
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Sergio Aguero
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8
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4
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121
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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
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8
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1
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118
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Raheem Sterling
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7
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6
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134
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Eden Hazard
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7
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4
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125
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Mohamed Salah
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7
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3
|
160
|
Harry Kane
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7
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1
|
166
|
Aleksandar Mitrovic
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7
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1
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167
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Glenn Murray
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7
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0
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142
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One of those players on seven goals tally is Mitrovic, who scored a brace against the Saints for Fulham on Saturday to ensure Claudio Ranieri's kickstart his managerial reign with a victory.
Mitrovic's first-half opener was his fourth headed goal this season, more than any other Premier League player.
With just a third of the season gone, it puts Mitrovic on course to reach double figures for headed goals, a feet no player has achieved in the Premier League.
Duncan Ferguson of Everton is the record holder with nine headed goals during the 1997-98 season.
Sunday-Funday
Arsenal's Europa League qualification has seen some of their Premier League fixtures switched from a Saturday to a Sunday.
That Thursday-Sunday gap is seen as an inconvenience by most, but not by Aubameyang.
His winner for Arsenal against Bournemouth on Sunday means he has now scored 14 goals in 16 Premier League games played on a Sunday, making it 78% of his total for the club.
Premier League goals scored on a Sunday
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Player
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Total goals
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Sunday goals
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Percentage
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Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang
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18
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14
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77.8%
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Jack Rodwell
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10
|
6
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60%
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Divock Origi
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12
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7
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58.3%
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Alexandre Lacazette
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19
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11
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57.9%
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Georginio Wijnaldum
|
19
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11
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57.9%
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London calling
Manchester City and Tottenham won their London fixtures on Saturday and both clubs have reason to enjoy playing in the capital at the moment.
City became only the second non-London club to win six consecutive top-flight games in the capital, after 4-0 thrashing of Westham United
equalling a feat achieved by Portsmouth 67 years
Tottenham defeated Chelsea at Wembley to move above the Blues into third and continue manager Mauricio Pochettino's impressive record against fellow London clubs.
It was the 22nd London derby victory for the Argentine - no other club has won more since he took charge of Spurs in the summer of 2014.
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