United must find cutting edge as unwanted records starting to pile up

UNITED are in the doldrums once again after another disappointing defeat to add to a season of lows so far.

- STEVEN RAILSTON

The Reds visited the London Stadium on Saturday off the back of a solid performance in the draw at Anfield the previous weekend, but once again showed their shortcomings in attack as they succumbed to a 2-0 defeat to West Ham.

It piled the pressure back on manager Erik Ten Hag – and tonight they face another huge challenge as Aston Villa arrive at Old Trafford.

Unai Emery has transformed Villa into title contenders and they are perhaps the Premier League’s form team at the moment.

The Reds desperately need points if they want to keep hope of contending for the top four places, and their blunt attack will have to start sharpening up. Here are the main talking points ahead of tonight’s match ...

■ANOTHER UNWANTED RECORD

United have gone four straight games without scoring for the first time since the autumn of 1992 and Sir Alex Ferguson reacted to that barren run by signing Eric Cantona for £1m.

The unwanted Reds records are stacking up wherever you look this season and the lack of goals is perhaps highlighted best by midfielder Scott McTominay being the team’s top goalscorer with a tally of just six.