- Manchester United have thrashed rivals and minnows
- An 8-2 mauling of Arsenal remains iconic
- Reds reached 10 goals in a European feast
The history of Manchester United is written in goals, and few chapters are as spectacular as the days when the floodgates truly opened.
From the pioneering days of Newton Heath to the modern Premier League era, the Reds have consistently delivered scorelines that have left opponents stunned and rewritten record books.
Whether it be maulings of English opponents or European minnows, the Red Devils have enjoyed some astonishing wins in their history. We list the top 10 biggest.
10-0 v Anderlecht (European Cup, 1956)
This remains the only time United have hit double figures and kept a clean sheet in the same match, coming in the first round of the European Cup. After a 2-0 first-leg win in Belgium, the Reds ran riot at Maine Road.
The match ball was hotly contested as Dennis Viollet scored four and Tommy Taylor bagged a hat-trick, with Liam Whelan adding a brace and Johnny Berry one, as Sir Matt Busby watched on. United would go on to reach the semi-finals that year.
10-1 v Wolves (Division One, 1892)
Long before they were United, Newton Heath recorded their biggest league win. The Heathens were ahead within a minute through James Hendry.
William S Stewart and Bob Donaldson each scored a hat-trick, with Alf Farman, William Hood and Adam Carson also getting on a very crowded scoresheet. To this day, no Manchester United side has managed to equal that league goal tally.
9-0 v Walsall (Division Two, 1895)
During the Newton Heath days in the Second Division, Walsall actually protested the first match because of the pitch’s condition. The league ordered a replay, and the ‘Heathens’ won that one 9-0 instead. Four United players scored a brace.
9-0 v Darwen (Division Two, 1898)
Another 9-0 victory during the Newton Heath era, this time against the old mill town team from East Lancashire. Willie Bryant and Joe Cassidy both scored a perfect hat-trick to complete the demolition.
9-0 v Ipswich (Premier League, 1995)
Played at Old Trafford on 4 March 1995, this was essentially a one-man bludgeoning from Andy Cole. Cole set a Premier League record by scoring five goals, while Mark Hughes scored twice and Roy Keane and Paul Ince also got on the scoresheet in the 9-0 win. Ipswich had actually beaten United 3-2 at Portman Road earlier that season.
9-0 v Southampton (Premier League, 2021)
Played during the COVID lockdown, the Saints were down to ten men after just two minutes. United set an all-time Premier League record by having eight different scorers including a Jan Bednarek own goal. The goals came from Wan-Bissaka, Rashford, Cavani, Martial (2), McTominay, Fernandes and Daniel James.
8-0 v Yeovil (FA Cup, 1949)
United’s record FA Cup victory came against non-league giant-killers Yeovil Town. Jack Rowley was the hero, scoring five goals in the 8-0 win at Maine Road. Remarkably, Yeovil had reached the fifth round by beating First Division Sunderland.
8-1 v QPR (Division One, 1969)
On 19 March 1969, Willie Morgan scored a hat-trick, George Best scored twice, and Nobby Stiles, Brian Kidd and John Aston Jnr added the others in an 8-1 demolition at Old Trafford.
8-1 v Nottingham Forest (Premier League, 1999)
Played on 6 February 1999, the 41st anniversary of the Munich air disaster, this result set a new Premier League record for the biggest away win. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer came off the bench to score four times as United ran riot at the City Ground.
8-2 vs Arsenal (Premier League, 2011)
The image of Arsene Wenger up in the Old Trafford stands remains one of the most famous images in English football history. The Frenchman watched United tear his Arsenal side apart with an 8-2 humiliation that almost felt wrong once the sixth goal went in.
For so long, the Gunners were battling the Red Devils at the top of the table, but this truly indicated their time in the title picture was over. Goals from Danny Welbeck, Ashley Young (2), Wayne Rooney (3), Park Ji-Sung and Nani did the damage.
