Man United’s relegation chances are revealed by stats boffins after suffering fourth loss in a row under new boss Ruben Amorim

Manchester United‘s relegation chances have been revealed by stats boffins after their 2-0 defeat by Newcastle left them facing a shock drop.

United are 14th in the Premier League and just seven points above the bottom three, leaving Ruben Amorim to admit they are fighting for their top-flight credentials.

The loss at Old Trafford, which came after goals from Alexander Isak and Joelinton, was the club’s fourth in a row in all competitions and Amorim’s fifth defeat in his first eight league games – the poorest start for a United manager in 103 years. 

Holding a tally of just 22 points at the halfway mark, the fallen heavyweights have been dragged closer to the dreaded dotted line and Ipswich‘s 2-0 victory against Chelsea at Portman Road narrowed the gap ahead of United’s trip to Liverpool. 

Now, the club’s odds of falling into the Championship have been laid bare.

According to Opta’s supercomputer, however, there is a silver lining with United facing just a 0.1 per cent chance of being relegated in 18th place. There is, meanwhile, a zero per cent probability that they finish 19th or rock bottom.

Ruben Amorim’s side lost 2-0 to Newcastle, their fourth straight defeat in all competitions

The result left United 14th in the Premier League and just seven points above the drop zone

The algorithm has tipped a 0.6 per cent chance for a 17th-placed finish while even 16th is viewed as an outside shot on 3.1 per cent. 

Twelfth place is United’s most likely position at the end of the season, with a 15.1 per cent probability, with 13th a 13.9 per cent chance. 

Damningly, the club’s hopes of ending up in 10th, and therefore the top half of the table, stand at 10.6 per cent. A top four finish is a 0.3 per cent possibility.

Amorim has accepted responsibility for his side’s dire form, saying: ‘It is also my fault. I think the team is not improving. It is a little bit lost in this moment. It is a bit embarrassing to be Manchester United coach and lose a lot of games. 

‘But we have to cope with difficult moments in the life of everybody.’ 

Asked whether United were in danger of the drop, Amorim added: ‘That is really clear, so we have to fight. It is a really difficult moment, one of the more difficult moments in the history of Manchester United and we have to address it with honesty.

‘I am responsible. I don’t like to arrive here and make excuses. I think people are tired of excuses in this club. I think our club needs a shock and we have to understand that. It is a very difficult moment and we have to fight for the next game.’ 

Club legend Gary Neville also fears a relegation slog.

But there is a silver lining with United facing just a 0.1 per cent chance of finishing in 18th place

Amorim has accepted blame for the dire form and admitted that relegation is now a possibility

‘He (Amorim) was resolute that he won’t change but he must be suffering deep inside,’ Neville said, speaking on Sky Sports. ‘I’m worried as well. It was really grim. That first half an hour was hard to watch as a United fan.  

‘There’s no doubt: performances and results have deteriorated in these last few weeks. They’re finding it very difficult, some of the players with the system, they’re finding it very difficult with the confidence.

‘The concern is that they’re getting dragged into a fight down there near the bottom. 

‘I think they’ve got a lot to do and that is being very, very kind. I don’t think this group of players are of the quality of the ones that [Erik] Ten Hag has had, Ole [Gunnar Solskjaer] has had, Jose Mourinho has had, or Louis van Gaal. 

‘They weren’t good enough for Manchester United in those periods but they were better teams and better squads than they are currently.’