Well, probably not. But the fact that “Manchester United” and “relegation” are being used in the same sentence speaks to how poor the Red Devils have been to start the season.
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Manchester United entered play on Sunday, Nov. 8 in the Premier League’s bottom three. It’s the first time in 40 years the Red Devils have been in the relegation zone this late in the season.
With a match against Aston Villa on Sunday, United could get itself away from the bottom three – or drop even more points in an unlikely early relegation battle.
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Best Premier League action, scenes and drama from 2026-27 season
Daichi Kamada of Crystal Palace scores his team’s first goal past Matz Sels of Nottingham Forest at Selhurst Park on Oct. 11, 2026 in London, England. Crystal Palace won the match, 3-1.
(Justin Setterfield, Getty Images)
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Best Premier League action, scenes and drama from 2026-27 season
Daichi Kamada of Crystal Palace scores his team’s first goal past Matz Sels of Nottingham Forest at Selhurst Park on Oct. 11, 2026 in London, England. Crystal Palace won the match, 3-1.
(Justin Setterfield, Getty Images)
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Best Premier League action, scenes and drama from 2026-27 season
Jaouen Hadjam of Brighton & Hove Albion scores his team’s second goal against Sunderland at Stadium of Light on Oct. 10, 2026 in Sunderland, England. Brighton & Hove Albion won the match, 2-0.
(Stu Forster, Getty Images)
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Best Premier League action, scenes and drama from 2026-27 season
Bukayo Saka of Arsenal clashes with James Trafford of Leeds United at Emirates Stadium on Oct.10, 2026 in London, England. Arsenal won the match, 2-1.
(Alex Pantling, Getty Images)
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Best Premier League action, scenes and drama from 2026-27 season
Dominic Calvert-Lewin of Leeds United scores his team’s second goal of a 4-1 win over Newcastle United at Elland Road on Sept. 14, 2026 in Leeds, England.
(Stu Forster, Getty Images)
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Best Premier League action, scenes and drama from 2026-27 season
Joao Pedro of Chelsea is challenged by Gabriel of Arsenal during the match at Emirates Stadium on Sept. 6, 2026 in London, England. Arsenal won the match, 2-1.
(Justin Setterfield, Getty Images)
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Best Premier League action, scenes and drama from 2026-27 season
Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes celebrates scoring against Ipswich on Aug. 30, 2026. Manchester United won the match, 5-2.
(Jon Super, REUTERS)
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Best Premier League action, scenes and drama from 2026-27 season
Chelsea goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez celebrates his team scoring against Brighton on Aug. 30, 2026. Chelsea won the match, 4-3.
(John Sibley, Action Images via Reuters)
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Best Premier League action, scenes and drama from 2026-27 season
Sunderland fans celebrate a goal against Fulham on Aug. 30, 2026. Sunderland won the match, 1-0.
(Lee Smith, Action Images via Reuters)
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Best Premier League action, scenes and drama from 2026-27 season
Sunderland’s Granit Xhaka celebrates after a 1-0 win against Fulham on Aug. 30, 2026.
(Scott Heppell, REUTERS)
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Best Premier League action, scenes and drama from 2026-27 season
Yoane Wissa of Newcastle United celebrates scoring a goal against Tottenham Hotspur Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Aug. 29, 2026 in London, England. Newcastle won the match, 2-0.
(Richard Heathcote, Getty Images)
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Best Premier League action, scenes and drama from 2026-27 season
Hull City’s Liam Millar celebrates scoring a goal against Coventry City at the Coventry Building Society Arena in Coventry on Aug. 29, 2026. Hull City won the match, 1-0.
(DARREN STAPLES, AFP via Getty Images)
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Best Premier League action, scenes and drama from 2026-27 season
Erling Haaland of Manchester City scores his team’s first goal against Crystal Palace at Selhurst Park on Aug. 28, 2026 in London, England. Man City won the match, 4-1.
(Mike Hewitt, Getty Images)
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Best Premier League action, scenes and drama from 2026-27 season
Liverpool’s Cody Gakpo (left) jumps for the ball against Newcastle United at St James’ Park in Newcastle-upon-Tyne on Aug. 23, 2026. The match ended in a 2-2 draw.
(PAUL ELLIS, AFP via Getty Images)
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Best Premier League action, scenes and drama from 2026-27 season
Erling Haaland of Manchester City runs with the ball during the match against AFC Bournemouth at Etihad Stadium on Aug. 23, 2026 in Manchester, England. Man City won the match, 2-1.
(Michael Steele, Getty Images)
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Best Premier League action, scenes and drama from 2026-27 season
Thierno Barry of Everton scores his team’s second goal while under pressure from Chris Richards of Crystal Palace at Hill Dickinson Stadium on Aug. 22, 2026 in Liverpool. Everton won the match, 2-0.
(Naomi Baker, Getty Images)
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Best Premier League action, scenes and drama from 2026-27 season
Hull City’s Mohamed Belloumi (left) chases the ball during the Premier League match against Manchester United at the MKM Stadium in Kingston upon Hull, eastern England on Aug. 22, 2026. Hull City won the match, 2-0.
(PAUL ELLIS, AFP via Getty Images)
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Best Premier League action, scenes and drama from 2026-27 season
Loum Tchaouna of Coventry City is challenged in the air by Myles Lewis-Skelly of Arsenal at Emirates Stadium on Aug. 21, 2026 in London, England. Arsenal won the match, 3-0.
(Justin Setterfield, Getty Images)
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Best Premier League action, scenes and drama from 2026-27 season
A pyrotechnics display takes place before the 2026-27 Premier League season-opening match between Arsenal and Coventry City at Emirates Stadium on Aug. 21, 2026 in London, England.
(Julian Finney, Getty Images)
Has Manchester United ever been relegated?
Yes. The last time United was relegated from England’s top flight was in 1973-74. It was a short stay in the second tier, as United bounced straight back up by winning the Second Division in 1974-75.
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The Red Devils were relegated from the top flight four other times prior to 1974: 1894, 1922, 1931 and 1937.
United has never been relegated since the Premier League began in 1992. Its worst Premier League finish came when it ended the 2024-25 season in 15th place.
Is Manchester United in danger of relegation?
With the season not even a third of the way through, United is still far from any real fears of relegation.
But the Premier League can be unforgiving, even for the biggest of clubs. Just ask Tottenham, which needed to wait until the final day of last season to escape relegation.
United is in need of three points against Villa on Sunday to avoid heading into the November international break in the bottom three.
