Manchester United’s level of intensity once again became a talking point after their 1-1 stalemate with Fulham in the Premier League. Inside the squad, forward Matheus Cunha did not mince words, telling Sky Sports, “They’re covering more ground than us – we can’t accept that.” Former defender and Sky pundit Gary Neville echoed the sentiment, remarking, “I’ve never seen a United side retreat from possession as often as they did in that game.” So what do the numbers actually reveal about United’s work‑rate at Craven Cottage, and how concerning is this for manager Michael Carrick?
According to Opta data, United sit joint‑bottom in the league for high‑speed runs, matching Manchester City with 1,691 such sprints. However, it is worth noting that City played most of their recent derby with ten men, a factor that skews the comparison. When United were out of possession against Fulham, they spent 52.98 % of that time merely walking.
Only seven clubs have posted a higher percentage this season, but it remains the highest walking figure United have logged in the current campaign. Their season‑average for walking out of possession stands at 51.13 %, placing them 17th in the Premier League.
Since the start of the 2022‑23 season, there have been 30 occasions in which a team has spent a larger share of its out‑of‑possession time walking than United did at Craven Cottage. One notable example is United’s own 54.59 % walking rate in their 3‑0 victory over Brighton on the final day of the previous season. In terms of total distance covered, United ran 110.2 km on Sunday – the second‑lowest total across the league that weekend, only ahead of Liverpool’s 108.4 km at Bournemouth. This means United covered 6.5 km less than Fulham, marking the second‑largest gap between two eleven‑a‑side sides this season (Arsenal out‑ran Coventry by 6.8 km on the opening matchday).
United have also been out‑run by Hull City, Ipswich Town and Everton at various points this term. Manchester City, despite having Phil Foden sent off after 23 minutes, remain the only side United have managed to outrun in distance this season. Another telling statistic is the starting point of Fulham’s passing sequences. On average, Fulham began their build‑up 36.9 m from United’s goal – the closest any opponent has started their attacks in the Premier League this weekend.
This underscores how deep United sat when they lost the ball. By contrast, United’s own attacks were initiated from an average of 43.4 m out, the third‑highest figure among the latest round of fixtures. Neville highlighted Fulham’s propensity for long‑ball build‑ups, noting they recorded the most “10‑plus passing sequences” that culminated in a shot or a touch inside the opposition box.
In other words, Fulham generated more sustained attacks ending in a direct threat than any other side over the weekend. It is also important to mention that Carrick dismissed the notion that his side suffered from an energy deficit when confronted with Cunha’s comments. In the post‑match press conference he said, “The way we finished the game didn’t look like we lacked energy to me.” Despite the low‑intensity indicators, United’s “progress” metric – which measures metres gained per passing sequence – topped the league for that round, demonstrating their ability to advance the ball quickly once they recovered possession. Their 36 entries into the opponent’s penalty area were the highest of any Premier League team this season.
Offensively, United produced 29 shots against Fulham, including two that struck the woodwork in the first half. This contributed to a season total of 113 shots, the most of any club in the competition. Their Expected Goals (xG) figure sits at 10.24, placing them third overall in the league. The challenge for Carrick is that these promising attacking statistics are eclipsed by the fact that United have only secured five points from their opening five matches.
After a campaign that began with high expectations following a third‑place finish last season, the early results have left supporters frustrated. The disappointment is amplified by the underwhelming running statistics, which suggest a lack of urgency and physical dominance. A failure to secure a win against bottom‑placed Tottenham after the international break would likely cement United’s worst ever start to a Premier League season, prompting even harsher scrutiny of Carrick’s tactics and his squad’s fitness levels. In summary, while Manchester United have shown moments of attacking flair – leading the league in penalty‑box entries, maintaining the highest progress per possession, and boasting a strong shot count – the underlying data on high‑speed runs, walking percentages, and total distance covered paints a picture of a side that may be too passive when not in possession.
Whether Carrick can adjust the team’s work‑rate and translate their offensive potential into consistent results remains the key question as the season progresses. Play Super 6 for a chance to win £1m! Enter for free.