United are the Premier League comeback kings

Monday 10 October 2022 13:23

Manchester United’s 2-1 victory against Everton at Goodison Park on Sunday evening was a hugely significant result for Erik ten Hag and his side.

The Reds responded superbly to Alex Iwobi’s early long-range goal, with breakaway efforts from Antony and Cristiano Ronaldo – his 700th club career goal – turning the game on its head.

United had further chances to stretch our lead and Marcus Rashford’s goal was harshly ruled out for handball, but we held firm in the face of a late Toffees onslaught and claimed the win, which Opta highlighted is our 100th victory in the Premier League after conceding the first goal of a game.

90 in 20: Everton v United Video

90 in 20: Everton v United

90 in 20 | The extended highlights of our Premier League match at Goodison Park are not to be missed...

We are the first club to reach that landmark since the division was rebranded in 1992 and it’s taken a while to arrive, with United last coming from behind to win a top-flight match in December of last year, when we beat Arsenal 3-2 at Old Trafford in Michael Carrick’s final game as caretaker boss.

Only two of our 31 Premier League seasons haven’t featured a win from behind: the 1995/96 campaign, when Eric Cantona inspired us to a title win that required United to reel in early leaders Newcastle United, and 2011/12, as we were pipped to the post by rivals Manchester City.

We average around three to four comeback wins a season, but two terms stand out, with an incredible 10 of United’s 21 victories under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in 2020/21 being secured after conceding first.

Sir Alex Ferguson’s final title-winning season, in 2012/13, was also something of an anomaly.

We comfortably won the league that term, finishing 11 points clear of City, although there were nine comeback wins, eight of them coming in the 19 games between the start of the season and Boxing Day.

Martial injury to be assessed

 Article

Antony Martial's enforced substitution at Everton was discussed by Erik ten Hag after the game.

OUR FAVOURITE COMEBACK WINS

United’s first Premier League comeback success was achieved in 1993, when goals from Brian McClair and Eric Cantona beat Sheffield United, following an early Franz Carr strike at Old Trafford.

Our 50th was among our most memorable, with Ronaldo hammering home a brilliant individual effort at Craven Cottage to give us a 2-1 victory at Craven Cottage, in a game Fulham dominated for large periods.

In and around these landmark victories, there have been plenty of other come-from-behind wins for the ages, so scroll down to watch 10 of our favourites, via the Premier League Collection…

10 memorable PL comebacks:

  • United 2 Sheffield Wednesday 1 Video

    United 2 Sheffield Wednesday 1

    10 April 1993: Watch the extended highlights of a game which proved pivotal in the first Premier League title race...

  • Manchester City 2 United 3 Video

    Manchester City 2 United 3

    7 November 1993: This derby clash was a game of two halves, but thankfully ended in three points for the Reds...

  • United 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1 Video

    United 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1

    16 May 1999: The Premier League title was on the line during a dramatic final-day clash at Old Trafford...

  • Tottenham Hotspur 3 United 5 Video

    Tottenham Hotspur 3 United 5

    29 September 2001: United came from three goals down to win on a memorable afternoon at Tottenham...

  • United 4 Blackburn Rovers 1 Video

    United 4 Blackburn Rovers 1

    31 March 2007: After trailing at the break, the Reds hit four second-half goals to earn another important victory...

  • Everton 2 United 4 Video

    Everton 2 United 4

    28 April 2007: A huge result at Goodison as United came from 2-0 down to take another step towards title glory...

  • United 5 Tottenham 2 Video

    United 5 Tottenham 2

    25 April 2009: United produced a thrilling comeback from 2-0 down, with goals from Ronaldo, Rooney and Berbatov...

  • Blackpool 2 United 3 Video

    Blackpool 2 United 3

    25 January 2011: Another classic comeback as Sir Alex's Reds make late waves by the seaside...

  • Southampton 2 United 3 Video

    Southampton 2 United 3

    2 September 2012: Robin van Persie’s hat-trick at Southampton ensured Sir Alex savoured his 1000th league game…

  • Manchester City 2 United 3 Video

    Manchester City 2 United 3

    7 April 2018: Victory for City would clinch the title, but United had other ideas...