In the 2022-2023 season, home form is considered the "backbone" for Manchester United to end the season in 3rd place in the Premier League.
Last season - before the arrival of coach Erik ten Hag - Man United had won only 10/19 matches at Old Trafford in the Premier League. When the Dutch coach arrived, he soon turned The Theater of Dreams into one of his strengths.
The "Red Devils" won 15/19 matches in Ten Hag's first season as coach, earning 48 points. Only Manchester City, with 52 points, have won more away from home.
Brighton are the only Premier League side to win at Old Trafford in the 2022-23 season. This means Man United are entering the 2023-2024 season with impressive home record to try to maintain. Brighton also won at Old Trafford in the opening round of the 2023-2024 season.
But success could not continue for Ten Hag and Man United. They have won less than 15 points, losing six times their home defeats in the 2022-23 season, as Brighton, Crystal Palace, Manchester City, Bournemouth, Fulham and Arsenal all left Old Trafford with the highest points.
The increase in away wins means that Man United have scored a big increase in their home goals - conceding 28 goals compared to 10 they have conceded in the 2022-2023 season.
Man United ended last season with a goal difference of only +3 at home. They have only scored 31 goals, 9 of which have not scored more than 1 goal.
The "Red Devils" have not been very effective in scoring in their two seasons under Ten Hag, with 58 and 57 goals in 2022-23 and 2023-24 respectively. That is the aspect they must improve if they want to challenge the Premier League's top teams.
With 57 goals last season, they and Palace have scored the fewest goals among the teams at the top of the rankings.
In contrast, Man City and Liverpool, teams that Sir Jim Ratcliffe said earlier this year wanted to "break their position" within 3 years, scored 96 and 86 goals respectively.
Man United have a lot to improve on the attack front, especially at home. As they have proven in the 2022-2023 season, any team aiming to enter the Top 4 needs to rely on good results at home.
How to make Ten Hag turn Old Trafford back into a fortress like the 2022-2023 season and make teams really afraid of having to go to "The Theater of Dreams again". At least, it cannot be passive like the 2023-2024 season.
Expecting away results is insignificant, with the last 2 seasons earning 27 points. So although Ten Hag demanded more from his players before the first away game of last season, it is unlikely that this season will be more likely.
Old Trafford must be a fulcrum for the goal of attacking the Top 4!
