It was an uninspiring season for Manchester United on many fronts with a strong start to the top-flight campaign failing to turn into a consistent run of form which resulted in a change in managerial reigns midway through the campaign.
A sixth-place finish in the Premier League, despite assuring United of a Europa League berth, would not be taken too kindly by the supporters who would be left worrying over the mess their club find themselves in after yet another season of misfortune on and off the football pitch.
HERE WE WILL GO THROUGH EACH GAME AND LINE UP WHICH LED TOWARD THE 2021-22 LEAGUE CAMPAIGN
Match 1 – Manchester United v Leeds United (5-1) – 14 August 2021
Just the start the doctor had ordered for the Red Devils who began the Premier League season on a flying note with a 5-1 drubbing of arch rivals Leeds United at Old Trafford.
Bruno Fernandes netted a hat-trick while Mason Greenwood and Fred scored the other two goals for the home side.
Match 2 – Southampton v Manchester United (1-1) – 22 August 2021
United were unable to replicate their form heading into the away contest against Southampton as the game finished 1–1 with Mason Greenwood cancelling out Che Adams’ opener.
Match 3 – Wolves v Manchester United (0-1) – 29 August 2021
Summer recruit Raphael Varane provided the assist for the in-form English forward Mason Greenwood who netted the only goal of the game to ensure a 1–0 scoreline for his side.
Match 4 – Manchester United v Newcastle United (4-1) – 11 September 2021
It was a second debut in the Manchester United shirt for Cristiano Ronaldo and he did not disappoint the home supporters with a goal to open the scoring before Newcastle leveller the affair. Ronaldo was again on target with Fernandes and Lingard following suit to secure a 4-1 win for the Red Devils.
Match 5 – West Ham United v Manchester United (1-2) – 19 September 2021
Ronaldo was on the scoresheet for the second game in a row Saïd Benrahma had given West Ham a surprise lead at the London Stadium. Lingard came off the bench to score a curler and rubber stamp the three points for his side.
Match 6 – Manchester United v Aston Villa (0-1) – 25 September 2021
A shock defeat on home turf to the visitors Aston Villa who got the only goal of the game through Kortney Hause in the 88th minute with United losing both Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw to injuries on either side of the interval.
Match 7 – Manchester United v Everton (1-1) – 2 October 2021
Anthony Martial opened the scoring for the hosts, the Frenchman’s first strike since February in the Red Devils colours, before Everton forward Townsend found a well-earned equaliser to salvage a point for the Merseysiders.
Match 8 – Leicester City v Manchester United (4-2) – 16 October 2021
United made the travels to the King Power Stadium after the international break to take on Leicester City and took the lead twice but Jamie Vardy scored twice and Patson Daka added a fourth to end United’s record-breaking 29-game away Premier League unbeaten run.
Match 9 – Manchester United v Liverpool (0-5) – 24 October 2021
Liverpool’s trip to Old Trafford made for one of the most forgettable games for the Manchester United fanbase who saw their side collapse in a 5-0 defeat to their foes in the North West derby with Mohamed Salah netting a hat-trick.
Match 10 – Tottenham Hotspur v Manchester United (0-3) – 30 October 2021
United found a return to winning ways after two big defeats in recent outings with attacking trio Ronaldo, Cavani and Rashford finding the back of the net.
Match 11 – Manchester United v Manchester City (0-2) – 6 November 2021
The high-billed Manchester derby against the defending champions City did not finish the way United would have liked with the visitors taking the lead through Eric Bailey’s own goal and Bernando Silva’s strike just before the interval to secure the three points.
Match 12 – Watford v Manchester United (4-1) – 20 November 2021
A game which would turn out to be the final time Ole Gunnar Solskjaer featured in the United dugout with the Red Devils being handed a 4–1 defeat to the Premier League new boys Watford at Vicarage Road.
Match 13 – Chelsea v Manchester United (1-1) – 28 November 2021
Michael Carrick was appointed the caretaker manager after Solskajer’s sacking and the former’s first game in charge came at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea which finished in a 1-1 stalemate.
Match 14 – Manchester United v Arsenal (3-2) – 2 December 2021
United picked up their first Premier League win against Arsenal since 2018 with Cristiano Ronaldo scoring twice, his second a penalty to win the game for his side, in Carrick’s final game as manager before Ralf Rangnick took over.
Match 15 – Manchester United v Crystal Palace (1-0) – 5 December 2021
Rangnick’s debut outing in the United dugout saw the players secure a narrow 1-0 win over Crystal Palace at Old Trafford with Fred’s 77th-minute strike.
Match 16 – Norwich City v Manchester United (0-1) – 11 December 2021
A penalty from Ronaldo in the 75th minute gave United the three points against the newly promoted Norwich City at Carrow Road.
Match 17 – Newcastle United v Manchester United (1-1) – 27 December 2021
United’s first game since the COVID-19 outbreak at the club came away at Newcastle where Edinson Cavani’s leveller was of much importance to his side salvaging a point after Allan Saint-Maximin opened the scoring.
Match 18 – Manchester United v Burnley (3-1) – 30 December 2021
The last game of the calendar year for United came on home turf against relegation favourites Burnley who could not trouble Ragnick’s men much in a 3-1 win for the hosts.
Match 19 – Manchester United v Wolves (0-1) – 3 January 2022
United start the turn of the year in horrible fashion with João Moutinho scoring the winner for Wolves in the 82nd minute to earn his side their first win away at United since 1980.
Match 20 – Aston Villa v Manchester United (2-2) – 15 January 2022
Aston Villa made the most of their underdog tag to hold United to a 2-2 stalemate at Villa Park despite Bruno Fernandes scoring twice to hand his side a two-goal lead before Jacob Ramsey and Coutinho turned the game in Villa’s favour.
Match 21 – Brentford v Manchester United (1-3) – 19 January 2022
Ralf Ragnick marshalled his troops back to much-needed winning ways with a 3-1 result at the newly promoted Brentford with United scoring through Elanga, Greenwood and Rashford.
Match 22 – Manchester United v West Ham United (1-0) – 22 January 2022
Marcus Rashford netted the winning goal in stoppage time to hand United an important win over fellow top four challengers West Ham United.
Match 23 – Burnley v Manchester United (1-1) – 8 February 2022
Paul Pogba’s first goal of the season handed United an early lead but Burnley found their way back in the game with Jay Rodriguez scoring in the second period to earn a point for Sean Dyche’s men.
Match 24 – Manchester United v Southampton (1-1) – 12 February 2022
Jadon Sancho opened the scoring for the home side against The Saints who responded through dangerman Che Adams with the game finishing in another 1-1 draw for United.
Match 25 – Manchester United v Brighton (2-0) – 15 February 2022
Portuguese duo Ronaldo and Fernandes scored on either side of the break to give United the win against Brighton in a convincing showing from the home side.
Match 26 – Leeds United v Manchester United (2-4) – 20 February 2022
Maguire and Fernandes put United ahead in the derby affair at Elland Road before Leeds scored through Rodrigo and Raphinha early in the second half. United’s changes off the bench worked wonders with Fred and Elanga netting a goal each to hand their side the three points.
Match 27 – Manchester United v Watford (0-0) – 26 February 2022
A frustrating outing at Old Trafford for Manchester United who were held to a nil-nil draw by basement side Watford.
Match 28 – Manchester City v Manchester United (4-1) – 6 March 2022
United proved to be no match for the high-flying City who put four past Ragnick’s side at the Etihad to claim their second derby win of the campaign.
Match 29 – Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur (3-2) – 12 March 2022
Ronaldo scored his only second-ever hat-trick in the United colours to give his side the three points with Spurs scoring through Harry Kane and Maguire’s own goal.
Match 30 – Manchester United v Leicester City (1-1) – 2 April 2022
The Red Devils could not keep up their momentum after the Spurs win with Leicester scoring early on at Old Trafford before Fred found the leveller for the hosts.
Match 31 – Everton v Manchester United (1-0) – 9 April 2022
Academy talent Anthony Gordon secured a 1–0 win for the relegation-threatened Everton at Goodison Park under their new manager Frank Lampard.
Match 32 – Manchester United v Norwich City (3-2) – 16 April 2022
Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice before strikes from Kieran Dowell and Teemu Pukki leveller the affair for Norwich as Ronaldo delivered from a free-kick to make it three for himself and ensure the win for Ralf Ragnick’s side.
Match 33 – Liverpool v Manchester United (4-0) – 19 April 2022
Another North West derby which finished in a thumping defeat for United with Liverpool shipping four goals past their arch-rivals at Anfield.
Match 34 – Arsenal v Manchester United (3-1) – 23 April 2022
A game where Ronaldo scored his 100th Premier League goal but Arsenal had Nuno Tavares, Bukayo Saka and Granit Xhaka on the scoresheet to emerge convincing winners over United.
Match 35 – Manchester United v Chelsea (1-1) – 28 April 2022
Marcos Alonso opened the scoring in style for the visitors before Ronaldo turned saviour yet again at Old Trafford to salvage a point for his side.
Match 36 – Manchester United v Brentford (3-0) – 2 May 2022
The last outing on home turf for United finished in a 3-0 win over Brentford with Fernandes, Ronaldo and Varane the scorers.
Match 37 – Brighton v Manchester United (4-0) – 7 May 2022
Another big defeat for United, this time around against Brighton, with Moisés Caicedo, Marc Cucurella, Pascal Groß and Leandro Trossard scoring one each at the Amex to ensure a memorable win for the Seagulls.
Match 38 – Crystal Palace v Manchester United (1-0) – 22 May 2022
Ragnick’s reign came to a disappointing end with his side suffering another loss on the final day of the season away at Crystal Palace with ex-United player Wilfried Zaha finding the back of the net.
