This jaw-dropping stat lays bare the scale of United’s superb 2025/26 renaissance – Opta

A remarkable stat has come to light, putting Manchester United’s brilliant season into perspective. Stunning campaign United enjoyed a wonderful 2025/26 season, the catalyst for which was Michael Carrick’s appointment as Ruben Amorim’s replacement at the start of the year. Far from finding stability under Amorim, United were a study in inconsistency, dogged by problems both on and off the pitch. But Carrick steadied the ship and embarked on a brilliant run that secured Champions League football and a third-placed finish for the Red Devils. Sunday’s 3-0 demolition of Brighton & Hove Albion at the Amex Stadium took Carrick’s record to 12 wins, three draws, and just two losses from 17 games. Carrick was confirmed as permanent head coach last week. United, however, had consistently stressed they would not make a knee-jerk decision, vowing to explore all suitable and available options before naming anyone to the role. But Carrick’s outstanding results and performance made it nearly impossible to overlook him. Speaking to MUTV after the final whistle at Brighton, the legendary midfielder was hugely optimistic about the club’s future prospects. Astonishing stat There is even more reason to be hopeful, if a stat by Opta is anything to go by. Per the data analysts, United head a top-five mini-league of the Premier League’s strongest teams this term. Opta analysed the head-to-head matches between the leading five clubs and United came out on top of this mini-table, having won five of their eight games. Unai Emery’s Aston Villa ran in second spot, followed by cross-town rivals Manchester City. Title-winners Arsenal are only fourth and Liverpool at the bottom. PosTeam NamePLDGDPTS 1UNITED8+215 2Aston Villa8-115 3Manchester City8+413 4Arsenal808 5Liverpool8-57 This is the table based on Premier League results between the top five teams in 2025-26. pic.twitter.com/B5GBFCEi2r — Opta Analyst (@OptaAnalyst) May 24, 2026 With memorable victories over City, Liverpool, Arsenal, and Villa, Carrick’s sensational run proves one thing: United can beat anyone. Hopefully, with a strong summer window and more signings, United can kick on and mount a title charge next season. Featured image Alex Livesey via Getty Images The Peoples Person has been one of the world’s leading Man United news sites for over a decade. Follow us on Bluesky: @peoplesperson.bsky.social Derick Kinoti Derick Kinoti is a football writer at The Peoples Person who has covered Manchester United and the Premier League extensively for years. His work blends sharp analysis, tactical insight, and engaging storytelling that resonates with fans around the world. Derick has gained valuable experience in football journalism, developing strong expertise in SEO writing, digital content creation, and social media engagement. A tech enthusiast with a Computer Science degree from the University of Nairobi, he ultimately swapped code for football commentary, bringing an analytical, detail-oriented approach to his writing. Derick is convinced Wayne Rooney is the true GOAT and won’t hear otherwise!