While the race for the Premier League crown has been a scrap elsewhere, there is one table that matters more to the Old Trafford faithful—the “Big Six” mini-league. After a miserable 2024/25 campaign where United were the whipping boys of the elite, the 2025/26 season has seen a complete restoration of the natural order.
Manchester United are officially the Kings of the Big Six, finishing the season with the strongest head-to-head record against Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, and Tottenham.
The Stats That Don’t Lie
The turnaround under Michael Carrick has been nothing short of sensational. In a group where United once struggled to find a single win, they have now registered 7 victories from 10 matches, collecting a staggering 22 points from a possible 30.
The Hits: How the Rivals Fell
The most satisfying part for United fans? It wasn’t just about the points; it was about the statements made.
• Liverpool (The Double): For the first time in a decade, United completed the league double over their historic rivals. The recent 3-2 thriller at Old Trafford was the final nail in the coffin for Liverpool’s “Big Six” record this year.
• Chelsea (Domination): Despite Chelsea’s heavy spending, United took 6 points from them, including a gritty 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge in April that essentially locked in Champions League football.
• Manchester City (The Derby Revenge): After a bruising 3-0 defeat early in the season, the return leg saw a tactical masterclass that proved the “noisy neighbors” can still be silenced.
The “Carrick Effect”
The secret sauce has been the shift in mentality. While the season started roughly under previous management—losing to Arsenal and City in the opening month—the “turnaround of form” under Carrick has been tactical genius. By stabilizing a defense anchored by Senne Lammens and trusting the counter-attacking pace of the youth, United became a nightmare for teams that like to keep the ball.
The only thing holding United back from a true title charge was their struggle against the league’s basement dwellers. But when the lights were brightest and the rivals were in town, the Red Devils didn’t just compete—they conquered.
