David Moyes sacked: Five crushing lows for the Manchester United manager this season

As United owners finally lose patience, what were his worst defeats?

Manchester City 4, Manchester United 1

Premier League, 22 Sept, 2013

Both Manchester clubs were under new management, but only Manuel Pellegrini seemed to have moved seamlessly into the hot seat as City took a 4-0 derby day lead inside 50 minutes. “I've made the players aware of how I expect them to respond,” said Moyes. “I would expect that from Manchester United players. It is the way they have been brought up.” United lost their next league match at home to West Brom.

Manchester United 2 Sunderland 1

(agg 3-3, Sunderland win 2-1 on penalties)

Capital One Cup, 22 Jan 2014

A win, but a pyrrhic one. United should have been boosted by a last-minute injury-time equaliser after a David De Gea error gave Sunderland a 3-2 aggregate lead. But, paralysed by a fear of failure, four of United’s penalty-takers failed to convert and another trophy chance had gone.

Manchester United 0, Liverpool 3

Premier League, 16 Mar, 2014

A humiliating defeat against United’s most bitter rivals notable for the way Liverpool were able to pass the ball leisurely amongst themselves when two-up with United seeming content to keep the score down. It could have been worse, Steven Gerrard scored two penalties but hit the post with a third.

Manchester United 0, Manchester City 3

Premier League, 25 March, 2014

Another drubbing. The watching Paul Scholes criticised the team’s lack of pace, Mata’s position, the defence and the team’s mentality stating in Ferguson’s time, “we could be two or three down but we never felt we were beaten”, while in this match “I never felt United were going to get back into the game.”

Everton 2, Manchester United 0

Premier League, 20 April, 2014

The score flattered United who had lots of possession but had little goal threat. Most damning of all they, noted watching Dwight Yorke, they “lacked desire, you expect players to be up for the game for the manager's sake because they know how important it was for him, but they look ready to go on holiday.” Moyes’ verdict: “We passed the ball well’. Yorke: ‘The pace and power, the things that Manchester United used to do to other teams, other teams are now doing to them.“