REVEALED: Man United have lost half of their league games without attacking trio, as the staggering stats show just how crucial Erik ten Hag’s top forwards are in the race for the Champions League
Man United’s best trio up front is crucial to ensuring they get the results needed to secure a Champions League place for next season.
Manchester United defeated Luton Town 2-1 on Sunday afternoon, with Rasmus Hojlund scoring both goals, as Erik ten Hag’s side closed the gap on the Premier League’s top five.
After the win, statistics emerged – shown on Sky Sports – showing just how important Man United’s front three are to their success during the season.
With Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Hojlund all starting for Man United in the Premier League, ten Hag’s side have avoided defeat in all seven games this season – with a win ratio of 86% as one match was a draw .
They averaged 2.4 goals per game in those seven league games and averaged 2.7 points per game.
Erik ten Hag is heavily dependent on his best front three to achieve results in the Premier League
Marcus Rashford, Rasmus Hojlund and Alejandro Garnacho have not lost in seven starts
The win rate is 86% on all three, but drops to just 44% if one or more of the trio is missing
However, without one or more of Rashford, Garnacho and Hojlund, Man United have lost nine of the 18 Premier League games they have played this season.
They averaged just one goal per game and 1.4 points per game, which equates to a 44% win rate.
It’s a staggering difference and one that could prove costly if Man United are to make up the points difference behind fourth-placed Aston Villa in the Premier League.
Hojlund was the difference maker at Kenilworth Road, opening the scoring inside the first 40 seconds, before being in the right spot to score with his chest minutes later.
The Dane insisted he intended to score the goal with his chest, with some claiming it was a fortuitous moment when the ball happened to trickle into the net.
The 20-year-old told Sky Sports: ‘Yes (I meant it). I saw my body. I was surprised it was such a good cause to be honest. I try to train like this.
After the match against Luton, Jamie Redknapp praised Rasmus Hojlund for finding his feet and excelling under ‘incredible’ pressure at Manchester United.
Hojlund extended his goalscoring streak to six games with an early brace at Luton Town
He insisted his second goal, which came from his chest, was a deliberate effort
‘Incredible pressure for a young man. United had Yorke, Cole and Solskjaer, they could bring in a plethora of strikers,” Redknapp told Sky Sports.
‘He had to play almost every match. I had no doubts whatsoever. I like what he does. He uses his body extremely well.”
