Manchester United will head into the upcoming Premier League season desperate to put their miserable 2024/25 campaign firmly behind them.
The Red Devils finished 15th in the standings last season, their worst finish in the English top flight since they were relegated in 1973/74.
United bounced back to win promotion the following season and their fans will be eager to see them demonstrate similar powers of recovery next term.
A measure of how far United have fallen in recent years can be garnered from the outright betting odds for the 2025/26 Premier League title race.
Ruben Amorim’s side are rated as 20/1 shots to claim top spot. They have effectively been written off by the bookmakers before a ball has been kicked.
However, one of the more enticing football betting options for next season is the Red Devils’ odds of 11/4 to secure a top four finish.
Some pundits have suggested that climbing back into the top six would represent progress, but a club of United’s stature should be aiming much higher.
With no European football to distract them next season, United can focus exclusively on their league campaign. On that basis, finishing in the top four is a realistic aim.
It would be fair to say that 2024/25 was not a vintage season for the Premier League. Liverpool cruised to the title as their rivals failed to live up to expectations.
Manchester City fluffed their lines in pursuit of a fifth consecutive league title and it would be no surprise to see them set the record straight.
City have significantly revamped their squad and are expected to mount a sustained challenge to regain their crown next season.
While City look a good bet to return to the pinnacle, United should have nothing to fear from the rest of the league if they get their act together.
Liverpool capitalised on the deficiencies of others last season and make limited appeal as a betting proposition in the outright market.
Arsenal’s penchant for failure continued with a third successive second place finish and you would be hard pushed to back them with any confidence to go one better next season.
Beyond that trio, all of the other likely contenders have weaknesses. Despite finishing 27 points adrift of the top four last season, United should not be setting their sights any lower.
The fixture list has given them a golden opportunity to lay down an early marker, with three of their first six games pitching them against other members of the so-called ‘Big Six’ club.
Arsenal and Chelsea are both scheduled to visit Old Trafford during the opening weeks of the campaign, which could work in United’s favour.
Games against Fulham (A), Burnley (H) and Brentford (A) are all winnable, which leaves the trip to Man City as the toughest test they face before the end of September.
If Amorim’s side can emerge unscathed from the fixtures against the big clubs and pick up nine points from the other three games, they would be well-placed to mount a top-four bid.
Having already added Matheus Cunha to their squad, United have made an extremely promising start to their summer transfer business.
More new arrivals are expected over the next few weeks, while several underperformers have been linked with moves elsewhere.
United’s squad will look different when the season starts and they should head into the campaign believing that a top-four finish is achievable.
