League Form:
The United season didn’t start off that well, with a 3-0 defeat in the Community Shield to Arsenal, and ended August without a win. In their opening nineteen games, United won only nine games, losing three and drawing seven.
On Boxing day 1998, United had 34 points, 8 points less than the United side this season, and seven wins behind the current City total. In the New Year until the end of the season, they did go undefeated to finish one point above second placed Arsenal.
That was thirteen wins and six draws to give United a total of 79 points, one of the leagues lowest winning totals. The lowest was actually 75, held by the same side only a few seasons before. The goals for and against that season average out to a 2-1 scoreline every game. Currently City are enjoying an average score-line of 3-½, each game.
So with a better goal ratio, and only twenty-four points away from the United total of that season, in a much more competitive league (Pre Abramovich etc).