A year ago, Liverpool were Premier League champions. Manchester United had just endured their worst senior season in modern history.
Twelve months later, this table tells a story that was simply unthinkable at the time.
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Stunning comeback between Liverpool and Manchester United
The graphic tells you everything you need to know. Liverpool’s points change from 2024-25 to 2025-26 is -24, one of the worst of any Premier League club this season.
Manchester United’s +29 swing is awesome. Add them up and there is a 53-point difference between the fortunes of English football’s two most decorated clubs, a reversal of fortune with few similarities in the sport’s modern era.
Last season, Liverpool won the title with 84 points. Mohamed Salah was the league’s top scorer.
Arne Slot’s side was a story of a runaway campaign. They finished fifth this season, limping to the finish line with 60 points, and qualified for the Champions League on goal difference in the final week.
Manchester United’s trajectory has gone in the exact opposite direction.
In the 2024-25 season, they finished in 15th place with just 42 points, their lowest ranking in the league since the 1989-90 season, and their worst point total since the three-point system was introduced, but they returned to the Champions League and finished the season in 3rd place with 71 points.
How Carrick rebuilt Man United and how Liverpool collapsed
The biggest catalyst for United’s transformation was the appointment of Michael Carrick on January 13th.
The former United midfielder wasted no time as he was introduced in place of the sacked Ruben Amorim.
He won 11 of his 16 league games, defeating Arsenal, Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea during that period, and picked up more points than any other manager during that period.
United fans went from fearing relegation 18 months ago to watching their club win Champions League football with a game remaining.
Carrick was subsequently awarded a permanent two-year contract.
Liverpool’s decline is difficult to explain. The team that catapulted the division a year ago failed to achieve the same results despite spending £500m in the summer transfer window.
The departures of Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson will mark an important transition period for Anfield.
It remains to be seen whether Slott will be fired. But one thing is for sure: something needs to change at Liverpool FC, and it needs to happen fast.
