More dismal results could doom Manchester United's Erik ten Hag

Manchester United manager Erik ten Hag’s seat is hot after the club’s poor Premier League start.

United has lost two of its three games, allowing five goals and only scoring two. The 3-0 loss Sunday at home against rival Liverpool was the latest embarrassment for the club.

With the pressure for results mounting quickly, United has a run of games in September and October that suggest the Dutchman could be out by Halloween.

United faces Southampton away in its next Premier League fixture. The newly promoted side is struggling, losing all three of its games, so anything but a dominating United performance will continue to raise questions about Ten Hag.

United will then face Crystal Palace away in a fixture that hasn’t been kind to it during Ten Hag’s tenure. United, which has not defeated Palace at Selhurst Park since 2020, lost 4-0 to the Eagles in May.

United will then face two teams that finished above it last season: Tottenham Hotspurs and Aston Villa. Both clubs made significant moves in the transfer window to compete for the top four and look miles ahead of United through the first three games.

As the table starts to take shape in mid-October, it’s likely United, if current form remains, will struggle to remain in the top half

On Tuesday, United CEO Omar Berrada publicly backed Ten Hag. However, if the club doesn’t start winning and playing well, the manager’s boss may have to answer to unsatisfied, angry fans.

Ten Hag isn't doing himself favors in the media. On Sunday, he went back and forth with a reporter who questioned his coaching after the Liverpool game Sunday.

Ten Hag defended his United managerial record, saying, “I think we’ve won, after [Manchester] City, the most trophies in English football [since 2022].”

Ten Hag has won the English Football League and FA Cup since taking over United in 2022, but the club’s Premier League form has suffered. If he continues to deliver dismal results, he may not have many more chances as United manager to debate with reporters.