LUCKY 13?
Dear Martin. The column has been really good this season, keep up the good work. As a Manchester United fan, I'd be interested to find out how many teams have been unbeaten after 13 Premier League games. And of those teams, how many went on to win the title? Kind regards, David Welling (Manchester United fan)
MARTIN SAYS: Manchester United are only the fourth side in Premier League history to go unbeaten in their opening 13 games of a season. However, of the other three, only one went on to win the title.
That team was, of course, the 'Invincible' Arsenal side of 2003/04, who not only avoided defeat in their first 13 games, but went the entire season unbeaten on their way to winning the title.
Arsenal were also unbeaten after 13 games of the 2007/08 season, but lost their 16th match (2-1 at Middlesbrough) and eventually finished third in the table behind United and Chelsea.
In the very same season, Liverpool were also unbeaten after 13 games - a run which ended in game 15 against Reading when they lost 3-1. The Reds eventually finished that season in fourth place.
And of the four sides in Premier League history to have been unbeaten in their first 13 games, the current United side have the worst record in terms of wins, goal difference and points accrued:
Records of sides unbeaten in first 13 Premier League games:
Arsenal (2003/04): P13 W10 D3 L0 F28 A10 Pts33
Arsenal (2007/08): P13 W10 D3 L0 F29 A10 Pts33
Liverpool (2007/08): P13 W7 D6 L0 F22 A6 Pts 27
Man Utd (2010/11): P13 W6 D7 L0 F26 A15 Pts25