2020 has been an eventful year for Manchester United.
They recovered from the club’s worst start to a Premier League season to eventually end up in Champions League places – and celebrated that feat by crashing dramatically outside the Champions League.
But despite all the ups and downs, one thing that remained stable and still strong was their form away from home against other top teams.
The Red Devils embarked on an away club record against Premier League opposition in June 2020, so we’re here at 90 mins thought it would be good to remember – and honor – those who have fallen along the way.
Extra time was needed for Manchester United’s first win in their winning streak, as they beat Norwich (still a top-flight team in the heady days of June 2020) at Carrow Road in the FA Cup quarter-final .
The Red Devils fielded a fringe side against the Canaries, Odion Ighalo opening the scoring with a wonderfully improvised finish.
Todd Cantwell equalized for the hosts with a fabulous solo effort, which then saw Timm Klose sacked in the last minute of normal time. As the game heads towards penalties, Harry Maguire regrouped the home winner from United in the 188th minute.
United’s Champions League qualifying hopes accelerated with a 3-0 win over Brighton at Amex Stadium.
A typical left-footed drive from Mason Greenwood put United ahead, before a deflected effort from Bruno Fernandes doubled their advantage before the first half was over.
Fernandes was once again on the scoresheet in the second half, being superbly selected by Marcus Rashford and hitting a pounding first end in front of Mat Ryan.
Fernandes and Greenwood were once again instrumental as United moved within one point of fourth place with the win over Aston Villa at Villa Park.
Fernandes won and converted a kick to put United in front, and Greenwood scored a stunning shot from the edge of the box in the first half stoppage time.
United put the game past Villa as Paul Pogba found the bottom corner of the beach just ahead of the hour.
The Red Devils remained tied on points with Leicester’s fourth place with a hard-fought 2-0 victory over Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park.
Rashford opened the scoring for United in the first half stoppage via a fabulous model and a cool finish.
He became supplier for United’s second player as Anthony Martial applied the finishing touches to a smooth team movement with 12 minutes left to wrap up the three points.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side booked their Champions League places with a win over their top four rivals Leicester at King Power on the final day of the 2019/20 campaign.
The Red Devils only needed a draw to confirm their top four, but took all three points thanks to a penalty from Fernandes and Jesse Lingard’s first goal of the season – in the 98th minute. Former United defender Jonny Evans saw red for the hosts in added time.
United recorded their first win of the 2020/21 season in unconvincing style with a win over Brighton at the Amex.
A penalty from Neal Maupay and an own goal from Lewis Dunk left the score at half-time, before Rashford produced a moment of individual brilliance to give United a 55th-minute lead.
And then madness ensued. Solly March equalized for Brighton in the 95th minute – only for VAR to award United a penalty after the final whistle for handball. Fernandes duly dispatched in the 10th minute of the time out.
The Amex became a happy hunting ground for United in 2020 as they tasted victory on the South Coast for the second time in four days to advance in the Carabao Cup.
The midweek tie was a slightly less dramatic affair, as United’s bangs side got the upper hand over Brighton’s bangs side.
Scott McTominay, Juan Mata and Pogba were on the Red Devils’ scoresheet, with Mata’s well-crafted team goal being the pick of the field.
United left it very, very late to record an ultimately convincing victory over Newcastle at St James’ Park.
Scores were even until the 86th minute – a Maguire header nullifying Luke Shaw’s goal – before the Red Devils scored three times later to seal the victory.
Fernandes atone for a rare missed kick with a thunderous finish four minutes from time, Aaron Wan-Bissaka scored his first goal for the club and Rashford struck in the sixth minute of injury time as United rebounded from their mayhem 6-1 at the hands of Spurs with style.
Fernandes, too, was instrumental again as United recovered from their humiliating midweek Champions League loss to Istanbul Basaksehir with a victory at Goodison Park.
Solskjaer’s side fell behind with a strike from Bernard in the 19th minute, but led at half-time as the Portuguese scored a brace. Edinson Cavani then scored his first goal for the club in the second half to secure a ninth consecutive victory.
Nine turned into ten when United made a remarkable comeback against Suthampton, coming from 2-0 at halftime to win 3-2.
Jan Bednarek and James Ward-Prowse had given the leaders a two-goal advantage at the break, but Cavani’s halftime introduction proved decisive.
The Uruguayan set Fernandes for United’s first, before scoring a header brace – the second in the 92nd minute – to give the Red Devils all three points.
If you hadn’t noticed the theme already, United absolutely loved dropping a goal.
Things were no different at London Stadium as West Ham took a deserved lead thanks to Tomas Soucek. But suspect Dean Henderson kicked in later and the tide changed, as Pogba swept a majestic effort past Lukasz Fabianski to rub David Moyes face as VAR clearly has a blind spot.
Before you knew it Greenwood and Rashford had added two more and it was the game, the set and the match.
Just when you thought United might stop falling behind, they scored a goal against the Sheffield United basement boys in the opening five minutes.
David McGoldrick was the man in place to benefit from a terrible Henderson error, but Rashford’s goals on either side of the half and Martial’s first of the 2020/21 season turned the tide.
The Blades scored late again thanks to McGoldrick, but it was too little, too late.
United reserved their place in the Carabao Cup semi-finals for the second consecutive season with a tense 2-0 victory at Goodison Park.
The Red Devils dominated for great spells while Everton barely threatened – but Solskjaer’s side had to wait until the 88th minute before breaking Carlo Ancelotti’s men.
Cavani was the man to thank this time around as his incredible effort broke the deadlock, before Martial scored in the 96th minute to seal the deal.
