An away win over Crystal Palace at the end of November showed a glimpse of a rejuvenated Manchester United team, ready to take on a hectic festive period.
They can prove this by having a strong December; per month they have endured a torrid form, if recent history is to be believed.
The Red Devils have lost nine of their December 14 league matches in the past two years. That poor record, in the busiest month of the Premier League calendar, has often pushed United out of the top four.
If they post a solid record this year in a relatively good schedule, they could become contenders for a spot in next season’s Champions League.
We look at their less favorable record in December in recent years, where this has led and why Ruben Amorim’s men need different fortunes in 2025.
Manchester United’s December record for the past two years
Since 2023, Manchester United have won just four of the December 14 games.
Manchester United’s December record since 2023 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date | They will resist | Scoring |
| 02/12/23 | Newcastle United (A) | 1-0 |
| 06/12/23 | Chelsea (H) | 2-1` |
| 09/12/23 | Bournemouth (H) | 0-3 |
| 17/12/23 | Liverpool (A) | 0-0 |
| 23/12/23 | Westham (A) | 2-0 |
| 26/12/23 | Aston Villa (H) | 3-2 |
| 12/30/23 | Nottingham forest (A) | 2-1 |
| 01/12/24 | Everton (H) | 4-0 |
| 04/12/24 | Arsenal (A) | 2-0 |
| 07/12/24 | Nottingham Forest (H) | 2-3 |
| 15/12/24 | Manchester City (A) | 1-2 |
| 22/12/24 | Bournemouth (H) | 0-3 |
| 26/12/24 | Wolves (A) | 2-0 |
| 30/12/24 | Newcastle United (H) | 0-2 |
United have failed to qualify for Europe’s premier club competition in the past two seasons, and their poor form over the festive period has generally taken them off course.
Went into 2023 The Red Devils in December four points behind the top four, and then enter the new year nine points behind.
Similarly, in 2024 they entered the month seven points behind the top four, eventually finishing 13 points behind the Champions League places after winning just two of their seven games for the second year in a row.
Manchester United has a favorable December schedule
Manchester United fans may have a happier festive period compared to the past two years due to their favorable fixture schedule.
For starters, a third of United’s six games are against a Wolves side who have yet to win a league match this season.
Manchester United’s December schedule | |
|---|---|
| Date | They will resist |
| 04/12 | Westham (H) |
| 08/12 | Wolves (A) |
| 12/15 | Bournemouth (H) |
| 21/12 | Aston Villa (A) |
| 26/12 | Newcastle United (H) |
| 30/12 | Wolves (H) |
Either side of their trip to Molineux they host a West Ham side who won when they last visited Old Trafford, but are yet to win an away game under Nuno Espirito Santo, and a Bournemouth side who started the season so well that their manager, Andoni Iraola is touted as Ruben Amorim’s replacement.
However, the Cherries are in the middle of a five-match winless run and have won just one away match all season.
Ruben Amorim hopes to win the first three matches of the month before key players Bryan Mbeumo and Amad Diallo join the many Premier League stars head to the Africa Cup of Nations.
Their final game before Christmas is a tough trip to Villa Park against an Aston Villa side who have won eight of their last nine games but have not beaten United in their last six matches. On Boxing Day they host a Newcastle side who have also won just one away game all season, before facing the league’s worst side again in their final match of 2025.
It is imperative that Manchester United have a good December
When Champions League nights return to Old Trafford, they should take advantage of their relative freshness compared to the teams around them.
Nine Premier League teams took part in European competitions in the first half of the season. Combine that with a packed festive schedule, and almost half of the teams in the division are likely to have to make changes or succumb to injuries during the busiest period of the calendar.
With United sitting just three points off the top four, but also four points clear of 15th-placed Fulham, they need to take advantage of the squad’s lack of attrition compared to their rivals and their relatively friendly schedule through December if they are to ultimately have an encouraging season.
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