Manchester United Have Been Given The Most Penalties This Season

Manchester United secured a lucky victory over West Ham United on Saturday evening thanks to two penalties. The spot kicks, awarded by Graham Scott, took the Red Devils to 12 penalties awarded this season and means they top the charts.

If it's true that it's better to be lucky than good, as the saying goes, then Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could have an extremely successful time as manager of Manchester United.

Whilst things haven't been going as well for the Norwegian recently, as they had been at the start of his tenor, the luck was definitely on his team's side on Saturday evening.

In their must win Premier League tie at home with West Ham they should have been 1-0 down through a Felipe Anderson goal, which the linesman wrongly flagged for offside, and then they went 1-0 up through a wrongly misgiven penalty.

Whilst West Ham would equalise in the second half it was the hosts who came away with all three points after Paul Pogba added his second from the penalty spot, this time correctly given.

And the two spot kicks which Graham Scott gave means the Solskjaer's team lead the charts for penalties received this season, via Transfermarkt:

1. Manchester United - 12 penalties received

United's first penalty against West Ham shouldn't have been given. Image: PA Images

2. Crystal Palace - 11

3. Bournemouth - 9

4. Leicester City - 7

5. Liverpool - 6

James Milner slots home for Liverpool against Fulham. Image: PA Images

=6. Everton - 5

=6. Southampton - 5

=6. Brighton - 5

=6. Chelsea - 5

=10. Arsenal - 4

=10. Manchester City - 4

=10. West Ham - 4

=10. Wolves - 4

=10. Spurs - 4

15. Newcastle - 3

Mike Dean gave Cardiff a penalty against Burnley on Saturday before overturning his decision. Image: PA Images

=15. Cardiff - 3

=17. Fulham - 2

=17. Burnley - 2

=19. Huddersfield Town - 1

=19. Watford - 1

Watford's only spot kick in the league came against West Ham. Image: PA Images

The most penalties a team have won in the Premier League since 2002 was Leicester City's 13 from their title winning campaign of 2015/16 with United now having five games to get the one penalty needed to level the record.

However despite all those spot kicks the Champions League quarter finalists haven't scored the most penalties in the league this season.

The Red Devils have missed on three occasions whereas Crystal Palace have missed just one to lead the way with 10 scored, thanks mainly to expert taker Luka Milivojević.

United are in the middle of the table for penalty goals conceded, having had five scored against them, with Brighton topping the table on nine and Liverpool bottom with one.

Topics: Paul Pogba, Football News, Manchester United, Referees, Premier League, West Ham, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Penalty, Crystal Palace

Ryan Sidle

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