Manchester United have two matches ahead to create English football history.
An unbeaten season away from home in the Premier League last season and at the end of the 2019/20 season has United on the brink of the record books.
United are now 26 away league games unbeaten in the league, after the end of season victory over Wolves with a changed side back in May.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side pick this back up on Sunday with a visit to Southampton, a ground United narrowly won 3-2 at last season.
A draw or win would take United to 27 league matches away unbeaten.
This would equal a previous record set by Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal.
It is important to note this would not just be a Premier League era record. This would be an all-time English football record.
Get past the Southampton test at St Mary’s, and Manchester United have an opportunity to take the record outright the following week away at Wolves again, and move to 28 away league matches unbeaten.
This would be a very impressive achievement, and continue a strong start to this season, especially if United win the games as opposed to simply drawing them, maintaining the momentum gained from a superb start at home to Leeds on the opening day.
Beyond the Wolves game, United have an away game against West Ham in September, and then Leicester and then Tottenham in October. But one step at a time.
Should there be an asterisk on United’s record?
It is impossible to ignore the fact United have benefitted from the lack of away fans in stadiums through the lockdown.
This has been a key factor in helping United remain unbeaten, we shouldn’t ignore that. It has been easier. But by the same time the team have had it tougher at home without fans, winning only nine of 19 last season at Old Trafford.
Eight out of 10 Premier League matches at the weekend were won by home teams, which means United fans will have to get used to some away defeats this season, it’s inevitable. But there should not be an over reaction when it happens, and improved home form should offset it.
While yes, in some ways there could be an asterisk applied to United’s record, it is also fair to argue there should not be.
United’s last away league defeat came against Arsenal back on New Year’s Day in 2020, this is a long time ago.
If it was so simple to remain unbeaten away during lockdown, lots of teams would have done so. It has been a level playing field for all teams, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side are the only ones on the brink of history.
Let’s hope they can take the final steps, and respond well to playing in front of away fans over the next two weeks.
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