United Women: Standout stats from 2022/23
Manchester United Women have certainly enjoyed a season of progression in 2022/23.
While there’s bound to be a hint of disappointment at falling just short in the Women’s Super League and in the Vitality Women’s FA Cup, Marc Skinner, his players and his staff have plenty to be proud about at the end of this campaign.
The Reds recorded a new best-ever top-flight finish of second place, secured Champions League football for the first time, and also played in a maiden FA Cup final at Wembley.
Those things alone explain a highly rewarding season for all involved, but there’s also some standout statistics that detail the advancement that Skinner’s side have made since September. Below, we’ve picked out some of the best…
The Reds recorded a new best-ever top-flight finish of second place, secured Champions League football for the first time, and also played in a maiden FA Cup final at Wembley.
Those things alone explain a highly rewarding season for all involved, but there’s also some standout statistics that detail the advancement that Skinner’s side have made since September. Below, we’ve picked out some of the best…
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HIGHEST POINTS TALLY
The Reds racked up a new team high for points recorded in a single league season, after taking 56 from our 22 WSL matches in 2022/23. The final-day victory at Liverpool ensured we would surpass our previous best of 55, achieved in the Championship-winning campaign of 2018/19. This term’s figure is also nine better than our top-flight record of 47, tallied up in 2020/21.
CLEAR ON CLEAN SHEETS
United registered 14 WSL shutouts this season, more than any other team in the division. Goalkeeper Mary Earps played each and every one of our 22 outings in the competition and picked up the Golden Glove award with more clean sheets in a single season than any other player in the competition’s history. The Reds also conceded the fewest goals in the league this season, having only had our defence breached 12 times across the campaign.
The Reds racked up a new team high for points recorded in a single league season, after taking 56 from our 22 WSL matches in 2022/23. The final-day victory at Liverpool ensured we would surpass our previous best of 55, achieved in the Championship-winning campaign of 2018/19. This term’s figure is also nine better than our top-flight record of 47, tallied up in 2020/21.
CLEAR ON CLEAN SHEETS
United registered 14 WSL shutouts this season, more than any other team in the division. Goalkeeper Mary Earps played each and every one of our 22 outings in the competition and picked up the Golden Glove award with more clean sheets in a single season than any other player in the competition’s history. The Reds also conceded the fewest goals in the league this season, having only had our defence breached 12 times across the campaign.
AN EQUAL-BEST UNBEATEN STREAK
Marc Skinner’s side matched a team record of 10 matches in a row without defeat across all competitions between 19 November 2022 and March 2023. The late come-from-behind win at Arsenal kickstarted that run, before it was ended by the narrow league defeat away to Chelsea. It equals an unbeaten run set by the Reds during our inaugural campaign, between 9 September and 9 December 2018.
CHANCE CHIEFS
Across the Women’s Super League season, United had the joint-highest xG (expected goal) per shot ratio in the league, suggesting a high level of quality to the chances that the Reds created. At the other end of the pitch, we recorded the joint-lowest xG per shot against in the WSL, which means Skinner’s side were often only allowing for poor chances to lead to a shot on our goal.
POSSESSION POWERHOUSE
The emphasis on playing with the ball in the Reds’ style of play shows up in the stats. United had a higher average possession in matches than any other side in the competition (62 per cent) this season. No side completed passes at a better rate than United (83 per cent), either.
Marc Skinner’s side matched a team record of 10 matches in a row without defeat across all competitions between 19 November 2022 and March 2023. The late come-from-behind win at Arsenal kickstarted that run, before it was ended by the narrow league defeat away to Chelsea. It equals an unbeaten run set by the Reds during our inaugural campaign, between 9 September and 9 December 2018.
CHANCE CHIEFS
Across the Women’s Super League season, United had the joint-highest xG (expected goal) per shot ratio in the league, suggesting a high level of quality to the chances that the Reds created. At the other end of the pitch, we recorded the joint-lowest xG per shot against in the WSL, which means Skinner’s side were often only allowing for poor chances to lead to a shot on our goal.
POSSESSION POWERHOUSE
The emphasis on playing with the ball in the Reds’ style of play shows up in the stats. United had a higher average possession in matches than any other side in the competition (62 per cent) this season. No side completed passes at a better rate than United (83 per cent), either.
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NOTABLE OFF-THE-BALL WORK
United enjoyed large spells in possession and, according to the numbers, that may in part be down to the team’s ability to win it back swiftly. The Reds regained the ball more than any other team while counter-pressing straight after losing it. Skinner’s side also fouled, pressed or tackled opponents more than anyone else within two seconds of being without the ball.
RECORD-BREAKING ATTENDANCES
While there’s impressive numbers on the pitch, those off it are also to be celebrated at the end of this season. A new home record attendance was set for United Women, with 30,196 supporters in attendance for our 5-0 win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford in December. New records were also set for a Reds game at Leigh Sports Village, with 7,864 watching this month’s WSL derby from the stands. Earlier in May, the team played in front of its all-time record crowd, when 77,390 witnessed the Women’s FA Cup final at Wembley.
United enjoyed large spells in possession and, according to the numbers, that may in part be down to the team’s ability to win it back swiftly. The Reds regained the ball more than any other team while counter-pressing straight after losing it. Skinner’s side also fouled, pressed or tackled opponents more than anyone else within two seconds of being without the ball.
RECORD-BREAKING ATTENDANCES
While there’s impressive numbers on the pitch, those off it are also to be celebrated at the end of this season. A new home record attendance was set for United Women, with 30,196 supporters in attendance for our 5-0 win over Aston Villa at Old Trafford in December. New records were also set for a Reds game at Leigh Sports Village, with 7,864 watching this month’s WSL derby from the stands. Earlier in May, the team played in front of its all-time record crowd, when 77,390 witnessed the Women’s FA Cup final at Wembley.
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