Manchester United's lack of running in their draw with Fulham was widely condemned - and it wasn't just a one-off for Michael Carrick's side this season
Lisandro Martinez of Manchester United looks dejected during the Premier League 2026/27 match between Fulham and Manchester United at Craven Cottage
Manchester United escaped with a point away to Fulham(Image: Getty Images)
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Manchester United's damning running statistics against Fulham are part of a larger issue that has plagued Michael Carrick's side. The Red Devils salvaged a point in their 1-1 draw against the Cottagers on Sunday, with Matheus Cunha's deflected strike saving the club from a third league defeat this season.
The result left United 12th in the table after five games, but it was their lack of running that left Gary Neville seething. They ran a whopping six kilometres fewer than their hosts, causing the former United captain to slam the team for their showing in west London.
After the hosts went ahead via Lisandro Martinez's own goal, Neville said: "I've watched Man United since the age of five and that's the worst 15 minutes I've ever seen. Absolutely pathetic. I've never seen such a lack of effort. What must Carrick be thinking?"
The Sky Sports pundit was certainly justified in his frustration, given the statistics compiled by FotMob from the action. United were shown to have run 110.2km as a team, with Alvaro Arbeloa's side easily surpassing that figure by running 116.7km.
The home side far surpassed United when it came to distance covered while running and sprinting, having made 10 more overall sprints than their opposition throughout the game. Being second-best in such metrics wasn't a one-off for Carrick's side; instead, it was a deeper look into how they've started the season.
United sit 16th in the league for distance covered per match. They've run a collective average distance of 111.9km, which is 6.8km less than leaders Arsenal and 6.6km fewer than Fulham, who rank second in the table when it comes to the stat.
That specific metric doesn't directly correlate to success as the Cottagers sit 19th in the league table. Liverpool rank rock bottom of the distance covered standings with 110.3km per match, but they're one of just five unbeaten teams left in the top flight.
The worrying running stats coupled with United's poor start to the season spell danger for Carrick, who is already under pressure a month into the campaign. While the former United midfielder will need results quickly to shift some of that tension, Neville's furore across the airwaves saw him take aim at the players specifically.
Harry Maguire of Manchester United shakes hands with Michael Carrick, manager of Manchester United, after the Premier League match between Fulham and Manchester United at Craven Cottage in London on September 20, 2026. (Photo by Tiego Grenho/MI News/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
The Red Devils have won just one of their opening five league games (Image: NurPhoto, NurPhoto via Getty Images)
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He continued: "I have never seen Manchester United walk as much as that. I called them mannequins. I have never seen a Manchester United team, for 15 minutes, walk around as much as that.
"No alerts, not on your toes, you should always be on your toes, there was no shifting up two or three yards. Just walking when Fulham were in possession. Not running is the only thing that I will call a disgrace."
Premier League table in total distance per match
1. Arsenal - 118.7km
2. Fulham - 118.5km
3. Brentford - 117.5km
4. Bournemouth - 115.4km
5. Crystal Palace - 115.2km
6. Newcastle United - 114.9km
7. Ipswich Town - 114.8km
8. Sunderland - 114.7km
9. Leeds United - 114.6km
10. Brighton - 114.3km
11. Hull City - 114.2km
12. Everton - 113.6km
13. Chelsea - 113.5km
14. Nottingham Forest - 112.5km
15. Tottenham Hotspur - 112.1km
16. Manchester United - 111.9km
17. Aston Villa - 111.5km
18. Manchester City - 111.2km
19. Coventry City - 110.5km
20. Liverpool - 110.3km
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