Why Man City’s title defence was even worse than Man United’s

Manchester United's first home defeat to Everton in 21 years meant the champions slid 12 points behind first placed Arsenal and probably condemned their title hopes for this season.

Never before in the Premier League era have the Red Devils been in this position – ninth – at this stage of the campaign as they try to defend the top flight trophy.

But are they on course for the worst title defence in the post-1992 Premier League era?

Considering United have won 13 of the 21 Premier League titles contested to date, it's a fair assumption this present team are certainly competing for the unwanted accolade of lamest defence.

Manchester City meakly surrendered the crown to United last season, finishing 11 points adrift in second spot, but after 14 games they were just a point behind their local rivals.

The worst Premier League title defence to date belongs to Blackburn Rovers, whose top spot triumph in the 1994/95 season capped a remarkable rise back to the top of English football, having last won the league in 1914.

The following season was a different story, though. With boss Kenny Dalglish moving upstairs in a new role as director of football, the managerial reins were handed over to assistant boss Ray Harford.

An appalling start to the season saw Blackburn linger around the foot of the table and a disastrous Champions League campaign resulted in Rovers finishing bottom of their group.

After 14 games of the 1995/96 season, Rovers were 12th, a whopping 18 points behind leaders Newcastle.

Harford managed to drag Rovers to a seventh-place finished, 21 points behind eventual champions Man United, but resigned the following October, to be replaced by Roy Hodgson.

Blackburn's defence wasn't the worst in the Premier League era, though, because that 'honour' is taken by Leeds United, whose 1992/93 campaign was a huge disappointment.

Although it wasn't strictly speaking a Premier League title defence, with Leeds having won the final top flight First Division title in 1991/92, the club's bid to be crowned back-to-back champions in the first year of the new division went from bad to worse.

After 14 games Leeds were down in 12th, nine points behind early leaders Blackburn, and Howard Wilkinson's side finished 17th, three places off the relegation spots (in a 22-team division), 33 points behind the team they had pipped to top spot the season before (Man United).

But the worst top flight title defence of them all was by Man City, coming off the back of the 1936/37 season; a landmark campaign, as the club won their first top flight title. 

The brilliantly named Wilf Wild was in charge as City went on a 22-match unbeaten run to claim the title, while Man United were consigned to relegation.

A year later however, it was a different story, as City suffered a shock relegation, despite being the division's highest scorers.

It was an embarrassing turn of events for Wild and the club, and remains to this day the only time the reigning English champions have been relegated the following season.

At least Moyes and Man United are unlikely to suffer that fate this season.

What do you think of Manchester United's attempt to defend their title so far and have they got any chance of finishing first this season? Share your thoughts…