While José Mourinho’s reputation for parking the bus has diminished a little of late, Old Trafford has only witnessed free-flowing attacking football on an intermittent basis this season.
The big-spending Red Devils have shown flashes of the sort of entertainment with which they were associated under Sir Alex Ferguson, with the recent goalless draw with Hull City just the latest example of United failing to break down a team they should be brushing aside on paper.
But even before that result, United were providing fans with worse value for money than any other in the Premier League, based on how much fans were paying per goal scored at their home ground.
There have been 26 goals in 12 games at Old Trafford so far this season (photo credit:Â Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
According to figures from MyVoucherCodes.co.uk, using data from BBC’s The Price of Football Index and The Football Ground Guide, visitors to United’s ground have been paying £21.28 per goal.
The figure is based on the number of goals scored at the ground and the lowest-priced matchday ticket for each individual game.
Southampton run them close: with 24 goals at St Mary’s to United’s 26 at Old Trafford, but with slightly cheaper tickets their fans are paying £20.85 per goal. Both clubs have seen more goals scored in their away fixtures, as have Everton – third-worst at £19.29 per goal.
There are only two grounds where fans are paying less than £10 per goal, and only one of those has seen the home side outscore their opponents.
That is Anfield, where the combination of cheap matchday tickets for locals and a whopping 40 goals in 11 games means Liverpool fans are paying as little as £5.75 per goal.
Hull run the Reds close, with the 35 goals scored during games at the KCOM Stadium coming in at £5.91, while Swansea – whose Liberty Stadium has played host to more goals than any other in the league – offer the next best value at £11.16.
