Stats reveal extent of Manchester United’s terrible finishing at home

While they got their revenge on Everton to a degree last night, turning the tables to score a last gasp penalty and take a point from the jaws of defeat, it was another hugely frustrating night for Jose Mourinho.

The Manchester United manager said after a stalemate with West Brom at the weekend, “Teams come here just to defend. Goalkeepers come here to be man of the match. We cannot score a goal even when we are one-on-one.” After yet another draw on Tuesday night, the Red Devils have shared the spoils more than any other side in the Premier League this season, with 9 of 12 draws coming at Old Trafford.

Mourinho has maintained that it has had little to do with his side’s approach to matches at home this season, but is merely due to profligacy from his players, and the stats certainly back up the manager’s claim. After the game with Everton, United have now had more shots at home in the Premier League than any other side (308).

18 of those attempts came against the Toffees in midweek, but it took a 94th minute Zlatan Ibrahimovic penalty to level the scores with what was only the hosts’ third shot on target - one fewer than their visitors on the night. The Swede’s successful spot kick was just the 21st goal that the club have scored in the league at Old Trafford this season, which is level in terms of goals at home with Swansea and Hull, but from one more game.

To put their woeful finishing into even clearer perspective then, Mourinho’s men have attempted 151 more shots at home than Hull (157) at the time of writing, despite finding the net the same number of times. While the late leveller at Old Trafford on Tuesday stretched United’s unbeaten league run to 20 games, the fact that half of those games have ended in draws is indeed clearly down to little more than lacking that clinical finish.