Manchester United currently finds itself labeled as the largest underachiever in the Premier League, according to a report from Betting Lounge. The Red Devils are occupying the 14th position in the early league standings, causing increasing pressure on manager Erik ten Hag.
The analysis considers the annual payroll for the 2024-25 season alongside the clubs’ current league positions. Astonishingly, United is sitting at the bottom with a staggering expenditure of £173,750,000. This hefty financial outlay has not translated into on-field success, leading to inconsistent results and performances that remain a cause for concern among fans and analysts alike.
Contrasting Performances in the Premier League
In contrast, Brighton & Hove Albion is celebrated as the biggest overachiever this season, currently ranked sixth while operating with a relatively modest payroll of £55,982,000 under their new manager, Fabian Hurzeler.
Table: Premier League Overachievers and Underachievers Based on Payroll
| Rank | Team | Annual Payroll (2024/25) | Current League Position | Over/Under Performance Metric |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 15 | Brighton & Hove Albion | £55,982,000 | 6 | 9 |
| 18 | Brentford | £41,470,000 | 11 | 7 |
| 13 | Fulham | £59,696,000 | 8 | 5 |
| 5 | Liverpool | £125,580,000 | 1 | 4 |
| 20 | Ipswich Town | £8,008,000 | 17 | 3 |
| 7 | Aston Villa | £101,400,000 | 5 | 2 |
| 12 | Nottingham Forest | £62,580,000 | 10 | 2 |
| 17 | Leicester City | £52,806,000 | 15 | 2 |
| 4 | Arsenal | £164,476,000 | 3 | 1 |
| 8 | Newcastle United | £98,800,000 | 7 | 1 |
| 14 | Bournemouth | £56,758,000 | 13 | 1 |
| 19 | Southampton | £32,942,000 | 19 | 0 |
| 1 | Manchester City | £218,660,000 | 2 | -1 |
| 2 | Chelsea | £190,710,000 | 4 | -2 |
| 6 | Tottenham Hotspur | £111,826,000 | 9 | -3 |
| 9 | West Ham United | £81,380,000 | 12 | -3 |
| 16 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | £54,386,000 | 20 | -4 |
| 11 | Everton | £64,142,000 | 16 | -5 |
| 10 | Crystal Palace | £66,560,000 | 18 | -8 |
| 3 | Manchester United | £173,750,000 | 14 | -11 |
Brighton is closely followed by Brentford, which is also overachieving with an annual payroll of £41,470,000, placing them 11th in the standings. Fulham also showcases high performance in eighth place with a payroll of £59,696,000.
Arne Slot’s Liverpool are exceeding expectations (Image credit: Getty Images)
Performance of Other Teams
Teams like Everton and Wolverhampton are underperforming this season, given their respective payrolls of £64,142,000 and £54,386,000. Meanwhile, West Ham and Tottenham fans will be expecting improvements soon. Spurs have invested heavily with an annual expenditure of £111,826,000 but find themselves in the mid-table, following a rocky start. West Ham, on the other hand, has yet to find their rhythm despite a significant payroll of £81,380,000, although a recent 4-1 victory over Ipswich has raised some hopes.
Ipswich Town, currently at 17th place, stands out as one of the biggest overachievers given their payroll—the lowest in the league at £8,008,000. Southampton, sitting 19th with an expenditure of £32,942,000, performs precisely on par with their payroll, though that remains of little comfort to their supporters, especially having gathered just one point from seven games.
Summary
Chelsea and Manchester City are slightly underachieving as well, holding the fourth and second spots in the league despite strong starts. Aston Villa continues to exceed expectations under the management of Unai Emery.
However, the glaring focus of attention remains on Manchester United, who are currently 11 places below their expected position. Fans and analysts alike are eagerly anticipating substantial improvement in performance after the upcoming international break.
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