Are Manchester United really at risk of a relegation scrap?

Manchester United's current tally of nine points from seven games would not even get them 30 points if it was continued for the full season. Chelsea beat 10-man Man Utd to pile more pressure on Michael Carrick "We've got to keep moving forward and winning games, simple as that," said Michael Carrick in that considered way of his, after their 2-0 defeat by Chelsea on Saturday. Carrick did get relegated once, with West Ham at the start of his playing career. The Hammers were supposed to be too good to go down in 2002-03. Aside from Carrick, they had England goalkeeper David James in their squad. Joe Cole, Jermain Defoe and Trevor Sinclair all played more than 40 games in all competitions.

But down they went, finishing third bottom with 42 points. It remains the highest tally any side has been relegated with across a 38-game Premier League campaign. To put that into context, Manchester United's current tally of seven points from nine games would not even get them 30 points if it was continued for the full season. You would have to be touching 60 to have any recollection of the last time United were relegated. Legend has it that old boy Denis Law sent them down with an impudent back heel he didn't celebrate when he was at