By Brian Sears

15 November 2010

If there is a perception in some quarters that Manchester United are faltering this season, it should be balanced against the fact that they are enjoying their longest ever unbeaten run at the start of a Premier League season. They are unbeaten after 13 league games following the weekend’s 2-2 draw at Aston Villa, which is four more games unbeaten than their previous longest unbeaten start of nine games in 1996-97 and 1999-2000.

Only three teams in Premier League history have gone unbeaten more than United’s current 13 games: Liverpool in 2007-08 began the season with 14 games unbeaten, Arsenal in 2007-08 began with 15 unbeaten, and of course Arsenal’s ‘Invincibles’ in 2003-04 went the whole season unbeaten. Details of the four other clubs who reached 12 games unbeaten are below.

Are long unbeaten starts guarantees of seasonal success, though? Not statistically. Among those side starting with at least 12 games unbeaten, only Arsenal in 1997-98 and Arsenal again in 2003-04 went on to win the title.

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