By IANS
London : Manchester United fans need not despair. Not just yet.
Three games without a win is actually Manchester United’s worst start to a Premier League season since it began in 1992-93. Back then, they were even worse off, losing to Sheffield United and Everton in their first two games before picking up their first point of the season in a home draw with Ipswich.
That happened to be the season United finally ended the 26-year wait for a league title. So for United fans, even after Sunday’s derby defeat at City, all is not lost!
For City, this is the first time in four years that they have sat proudly on top of the Premier League table.
Back then, also after three games, in August 2003, Kevin Keegan’s side beat Charlton 3-0 on the opening day, then drew with Portsmouth before winning at Blackburn to hit the front.
This time, though, their stay on top will last a little longer, because City were then knocked off the summit 24 hours later by Portsmouth.
Five players have played in every Premier League season to date – Ryan Giggs, Gary Speed, Sol Campbell, David James and Nicky Butt.
Ian Pearce stands to make that six as he is still on the books at Fulham, but waiting to be selected by new manager Lawrie Sanchez.
Even though the Manchester United website states that Giggs and Speed have scored in every Premiership season, strictly speaking, no one has achieved the feat because neither players has found the net so far this season.
Interestingly, both Giggs and Speed are Welshmen.
With United losing and Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal all drawing last weekend, the last time the Premier League’s ‘big four’ failed to win on the same match day was not so long ago.
It happened Feb 1, 2006 although it was not a weekend but a Wednesday night.
Unlike this weekend, Arsenal were beaten 3-2 at home by West Ham, Manchester United went down 4-3 at Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea drew 1-1 at Aston Villa and Liverpool drew 1-1 at home with Birmingham.
Last Sunday, Frank Lampard achieved a unique hat trick. He has now scored three goals against Liverpool in 29 games, all of them from the penalty spot and all of them at Anfield.
Lampard’s first came as a West Ham United player in the 2-2 draw in February 1999, he then scored in Chelsea’s 4-1 win in October 2005 before making it three Premier League penalties on Sunday.
Add to that his successful strike in the penalty shoot-out that settled last season’s UEFA Champions League semi-final – when he was the only Chelsea player to score as they lost 4-1 – and it is actually four out of four for Frank from the spot.