Statistics show Manchester United stand alone in having no strengths

As Manchester United prepare to host arch rivals Liverpool this Sunday they head into the clash as a Premier League outcast.

They are alone in England's top-flight when it comes to their statistical characteristics as a team in that, to now, they don't have any!

WhoScored.com characteristics, which decipher strengths, weaknesses and styles of play, compare all teams within a league against one another using statistics over a number of key categories.

The results aren't good for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side, who may have just one weakness - a pretty important one in 'finishing scoring chances' - but don't have a single statistical strength.

Every other Premier League club has at least one positive to their name at this stage, but United don't score significantly above the average in any of the categories analysed. As mentioned, they don't have any great weaknesses when compared to their league rivals either, but instead middle out statistically, which is reflected in their 12th placed standing ahead of the weekend.

United are in fact one of just three teams across the 98 in Europe's top five leagues without a statistical strength to their name at this early stage of the campaign.

Worryingly for Red Devils' fans their bitter rivals Liverpool, who make the trip to Old Trafford on Sunday, boast as many as eight. Crucially one of those is 'finishing scoring chances', and while there is a big gulf in quality between the two sides right now, that is arguably the most pivotal.