Monday blues are rare for the Reds

Since the division’s inception 27 years ago, we have won more than two-thirds of our 63 league games on the first day of the week. The most recent of our 43 Monday-night victories was one for United fans to savour: a 3-2 comeback success against Crystal Palace on 5 March 2018.

The Reds had trailed 2-0 with 35 minutes remaining, but a spirited fightback saw us get back on level terms heading into injury time, before Nemanja Matic’s barnstorming late strike ensured we returned from the capital with all the points; the Serbian duly earned our 2017/18 Goal of the Season award.

Our first Monday fixture in the Premier League fell on 24 August 1992 and took place at The Dell, Southampton's former home ground, with United grabbing three away points thanks to an 89th-minute Dion Dublin strike.

A few months later, Old Trafford staged its first Monday game, against Coventry City, on 28 December 1992. This was also one to remember for the Reds with Ryan Giggs, Mark Hughes, Eric Cantona, Lee Sharpe and Denis Irwin all netting in a comfortable 5-0 win.

Other memorable league games for the Reds on the first day of the week include a vital 1-0 success at Newcastle United in March 1996, which ultimately proved pivotal in us winning a third Premier League title.

Fans may also fondly recall the 2-1 win against Liverpool in September 2004 when Mikael Silvestre netted a brace for United but the best Monday game of all has to be one from almost nine years later, on 22 April 2013. 

That was the night when we clinched our record-breaking 20th league championship, thanks to Robin van Persie’s immaculate hat-trick against Aston Villa.

We have only lost six Monday games, including our most recent one - a 3-0 home defeat by Tottenham Hotspur in August 2018.

As for our next opponents, Wolves, they have a much less enviable record on the first day of the week, with no wins from five Premier League games.

The Black Country club have lost four of those matches, with their only point being the one they picked up in last February’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle at Molineux.

OUR FULL RECORD IN MONDAY PREMIER LEAGUE MATCHES

Played: 63
Won: 43
Drawn: 14
Lost: 6
Goals for: 119
Goals against: 49

Our win ratio is better on Mondays than it is for Premier League games overall - 68 per cent compared to 62 per cent.

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