5 most humiliating Manchester United defeats in the last decade

MANCHESTER, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 31: Yakubu Aiyegbeni of Blackburn Rovers (C) celebrates scoring their second goal with team mates Morten Gamst Pedersen and Steven N'Zonzi of Blackburn Rovers during the Barclays Premier League match between Manchester United and Blackburn Rovers at Old Trafford on December 31, 2011 in Manchester, England.  (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
Nigerian Yakubu doubles Blackburn’s lead

Manchester United are a club synonymous with success, however, over the past decade, the Red Devils have lost an enormous sense of invincibility with a shift in supremacy in the Premier League.

As the Old Trafford faithful hope their side continues to emulate the successes of previous years gone by, the club has suffered some unimaginable defeats which have left supporters embarrassed for a variety of reasons.

In fact, a common occurrence at Old Trafford during following embarrassing moments is that they have come at the majority of their biggest rivals. The past decade has seen a number of chances at the home of England's most successful ever club; nonetheless, they have regularly been left with 'egg on their face' as they battled to keep their tag as England's most dominant side.

But just what exactly are United's most shocking defeats over the past decade? Here's the top five


#5 Manchester United 2 Blackburn Rovers 3 (December 2011)

In December 2011, struggling Blackburn Rovers travelled to Old Trafford with close to nobody predicting the Lancashire outfit would come away with anything other than a horrendous thrashing with their egos battered.

Nonetheless, Rovers, in fact, came away from the Premier League champions’ ground with all three points as they stunned the football world. Relegation-threatened Steve Kean who was managing Blackburn – potentially the most hated Premier League manager in history – faced the fear of Championship football next season.

The contest saw former Portsmouth striker Yakubu score a brace to give Blackburn a comfortable lead. A brace from Dimitar Berbatov had restored the deficit before Grant Hanley latched onto a howler from United goalkeeper David de Gea.

The Spaniard's form soon changed, but he did receive the majority of the slack following the defeat. It's difficult to remember an in-form United side being embarrassed by the team destined for relegation.

#4 Chelsea 4 Manchester United 0 (October 2016)

LONDON, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 23:  Pedro of Chelsea celebrates scoring his sides first goal during the Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester United at Stamford Bridge on October 23, 2016 in London, England.  (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
Pedro scores after just thirty seconds

In October 2016, Jose Mourinho returned to Stamford Bridge for the first time in the opposition dugout for a Premier League match. The Portuguese manager returned for the first time after he was controversially sacked following a disastrous defence of their Premier League title in December 2015.

Mourinho's United side struggled for form following a derby defeat to Manchester City in September and the six weeks before the visit to Stamford Bridge saw them win just once more. On the other hand, Chelsea had already won five games on the trot and were overwhelming favourites.

Just seconds into the game, disaster struck as Pedro gave Chelsea the lead. Gary Cahill doubled the Blues' lead just 20 minutes later, but that wouldn't be all from the home side. Eden Hazard added further misery on Mourinho’s side before N'Golo Kante's solo effort only added to Jose's woes upon his return.

Amazingly, United remain unbeaten in the Premier League since the defeat at Stamford Bridge.

#3 Manchester United 1 Liverpool 4 (March 2009)

Steven Gerrard got on the scoresheet and celebrated in style

Very few times in the Premier League have Liverpool genuinely been contenders in a title race. But rewind to 2009 as the club under Rafael Benitez was mounting a serious headache for Sir Alex Ferguson's side as they went in search of a third successive Premier League title.

Liverpool arrived at Old Trafford in March 2009 preparing to put severe pressure on the Red Devils title push. Nonetheless, Cristiano Ronaldo seemed to ease the tension among United supporters early on as he dispatched a penalty to give the home side the lead.

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(Video Courtesy: JustFootball YouTube Channel)

But that would be as good as it got for United, as Fernando Torres continued his goalscoring record against United by scoring expertly after a tussle with Nemanja Vidic. Shortly afterwards, Steven Gerrard made it 1-2 to Liverpool at half-time.

As United pressed on for that equaliser, Fabio Aurelio expertly placed a stunning free-kick to double Liverpool's advantage. A Nemanja Vidic red card and Andrea Dossena chip further add to the humiliation for Ferguson's side.

#2 MK Dons 4 Manchester United 0 (August 2014)

MILTON KEYNES, ENGLAND - AUGUST 26:  Will Grigg of Milton Keynes Dons scores his second goal past goalkeeper David De Gea of Manchester United during the Capital One Cup Second Round match between MK Dons and Manchester United at Stadium mk on August 26, 2014 in Milton Keynes, England.  (Photo by Clive Mason/Getty Images)
Will Grigg was on fire in August 2014

Will Grigg was on fire, and Louis van Gaal's defence was actually terrified. Rewind to August 2014, and the Dutch manager took charge of his first domestic cup match in English football against Karl Robinson's MK Dons.

What soon followed was nothing short of remarkable as van Gaal's side went down 4-0 losers to the League One team. Manchester United were playing their first Capital One Cup Round 2 fixture in 19 years after the Red Devils finished a pitiful tenth place under David Moyes the season before.

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(Video Courtesy: ShivDes357 YouTube Channel)

Still, with not many expecting the southern's to scalp the 13-time Premier League champions, Will Grigg and Benik Afobe both scored twice to guarantee a place in the third round.

After a defeat by Swansea on the opening day of the Premier League season followed by a draw at Sunderland, van Gaal's reign at Old Trafford didn't get off to a great start. It's a result that still haunts United's enormous fanbase.

#1 Manchester United 1 Manchester City 6 (October 2011)

Sergio Aguero was one of the City players to get on the scoresheet

For someone stating this result was the most embarrassing defeat in the past decade is one statement, but if you wholeheartedly said it was the most humiliating in the history of Manchester United, would you be wrong?

Roberto Mancini took his in-form City side to the 'Theatre of Dreams' following an impressive start to the 2011/2012. Both sides were set to battle it out after each team picked up 20 points from 8 games - in comparison to 22 from 8 matches from the visitors.

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(Video Courtesy: JustFootball YouTube Channel)

The Red Devils succumbed to the biggest annihilation ever witnessed at Old Trafford in the Premier League era as Mario Balotelli, and Edin Dzeko scored a brace each, while goals from Sergio Aguero and Joleon Lescott further added to Sir Alex Ferguson's misery. A solitary goal from Darren Fletcher (arguably the best of the contest) didn't spare the blushes of the 76,000 in attendance.

The result proved crucial at the end of the season, as City won the Premier League title on goal difference.

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