Manchester United have no dearth of rivals, from local rivals City to Liverpool to the Blues of Chelsea and the Reds of Arsenal. The immense success of the club in the Premier League era has made it prone to jealousy and rivalry and the Red Devils haven’t always come out on top. We list down 10 defeats that embarrassed and divided their fan-base like no other.
10. Manchester City 4 – 1 Manchester United, 2003-04 Premier League
City were still not the force they currently are in English football. They trumped United at Maine Road, a victory that came days after United’s elimination from the Champions League.
The defeat proved costly in the title race as United finished 3rd and City went on to cling on to the Premier League status for next season.
9. Manchester United 0 – 3 York City, 1995 League Cup Round 2 1st Leg
Paul Barnes and Tony Barras inspired lowly York City to a famous victory over the Red Devils at Old Trafford in the League Cup of 1995.
The likes of David Beckham, Ryan Giggs and Nicky Butt were in the team that got humbled on this famous night, as they went on to be eliminated. The Red Devils however won the FA Cup and League that same season.
8. Southend United 1 – 0 Manchester United, 2006 League Cup
A team struggling in the Championship, England’s second tier, Southend United stunned a United lineup boasting of Wayne Rooney and Cristiano Ronaldo when they secured a rare 1-0 victory thanks to a wonderful Freddy Eastworth goal from a dead ball.
The holders were knocked out as United, who were celebrating Alex Ferguson’s 20 years in charge, cut a dismal figure.
7. Manchester United 0 – 3 Liverpool, 2013-14 Premier League
Arch rivals Liverpool came to Old Trafford and played the game of their lives as Steven Gerrard scored 2 and Suarez another to make it 3-0 for the Reds of Merseyside.
David Moyes was already struggling to meet the expectations of a club as huge as Manchester United but this was the death knell as the Board sacked him days later.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m6L4wntdsmg
6. MK Dons 4 – 0 Manchester United, 2014 Capital One Cup Round 2
Two divisions below them, MK Dons famously humiliated Manchester United as Louis Van Gaal’s side didn’t turn up on the day.
They conceded 4 and registered even lesser shots on target as United crashed out of the competition, the fears of Van Gaal’s pessimism coming true for United fans.
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5. Chelsea 5 – 0 Manchester United, 1999-00 Premier League
Chelsea Blues humbled Alex Fergson’s Manchester United no end at Stamford Bridge as they pumped 5 past the holders, including Gus Poyet’s goal in 28 seconds after kickoff, one of the fastest goals scored in the Premier League.
4. Manchester United 1 – 4 Liverpool, 2009-10 Premier League
After Cristiano Ronaldo put United ahead from the spot, the Reds of Merseyside came back very strongly to score four, as Fernando Torres played the best game of his life, scoring and assisting while Gerrard, Aurelio and Dossena also helped themselves to a goal.
The match was critical in the title race and made for all the bragging rights across Liverpool and Manchester.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OI91_X6fsk
3. Newcastle United 5 – 0 Manchester United, 1996-97 Premier League
Manchester United had won the 1995 title thanks to Newcastle pathetic second half of the season. But this time, it wasn’t to be as Newcastle gave United a true humbling at St. James’ Park.
Darren Peacock, David Ginola, Les Ferdinand, Alan Shearer and Phillipe Albert scored for the Black and Whites as United finished the game without an answer.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWN6rsH0lXo
2. Southampton 6 – 3 Manchester United, 1996-97 Premier League
Another away game, another pathetic United display. The Saints trumped the Red Devils at St. Mary’s Park days after Newcastle United had rubbed the Champions’ noses in with 5-0 thrashing.
The Saints scored 6 and conceded 3 as United could not find a solution to their problems on the road.
1. Manchester United 1 – 6 Manchester City, 2011 Premier League
In what Sir Alex Ferguson described as the worst day in charge of his tenure at Manchester United, the Scot was handed a 6-1 drubbing at the hands of local rivals Manchester City, a scoreline that not only was embarrassing, but also established City as true blue competitor in the Premier League, one that lifted the title of ‘noisy neighbors’ from their heads.