The 2019–20 season was Manchester United's 28th season in the Premier League and their 45th consecutive season in the top flight of English football. The club participated in the Premier League, finishing third, and reached the semi-finals of the FA Cup, the EFL Cup and the UEFA Europa League. The defeat in the Europa League made this United's first hat-trick of trophyless seasons since 1989.
This was United's first full season under manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær, who took permanent charge in March 2019. It was also their first season since 2008–09 and 2013–14 without club captain Antonio Valencia and Ander Herrera, who both left the club at the end of the previous season. Solskjær named Ashley Young as Valencia's successor as club captain. Upon Young's departure for Inter Milan in January 2020, he was replaced as club captain by Harry Maguire.
After being no higher than fifth place in the league since their sixth match in September 2019, United moved up to third place with a draw at home to West Ham United in the penultimate match of the season; they confirmed their third-place finish and a spot in the 2020–21 UEFA Champions League with a 2–0 victory at Leicester City on the final day of the season on 26 July, their 14th consecutive league game without defeat. The season featured a three-month hiatus from March to June 2020 after the outbreak of the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Pre-season and friendlies Pre-season
United preceded their 2019–20 campaign with a pre-season tour, with matches in Australia, Singapore, China, Norway and Wales. The first two matches were played at the Perth Stadium in Perth, Australia; the first was a 2–0 win over local side Perth Glory, with goals from Marcus Rashford and James Garner, followed by a meeting with historic rivals Leeds United, which the Red Devils won 4–0 thanks to goals from Rashford, Phil Jones, Anthony Martial, as well as a maiden senior goal for Mason Greenwood.
United also took part in the 2019 International Champions Cup. They began with a match against Internazionale in Singapore on 20 July, in which Greenwood scored the only goal to give United a 1–0 win, followed by a match against Tottenham Hotspur in Shanghai five days later, winning 2–1 thanks to goals from Martial and Angel Gomes. They then travelled to Norway to play an additional friendly against Kristiansund BK, the hometown club of Norwegian manager Ole Gunnar Solskjær, winning it 1–0 through an injury-time penalty by Juan Mata. Their final game in the International Champions Cup and final pre-season game saw them play against Milan in Cardiff on 3 August, winning 5–4 in a penalty shoot-out after the match ended in a 2–2 draw, with goals from Rashford and Jesse Lingard; Wales international Daniel James scored the winning penalty.
DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance13 July 2019Perth GloryN2–0Rashford 60', Garner 85'50,20617 July 2019Leeds UnitedN4–0Greenwood 7', Rashford 27', Jones 51', Martial 69' (pen.)55,27420 July 2019InternazionaleN1–0Greenwood 76'52,89725 July 2019Tottenham HotspurN2–1Martial 21', Gomes 80'30 July 2019KristiansundN1–0Mata 90+2' (pen.)3 August 2019MilanN2–2(5–4p)Rashford 14', Lingard 72'65,892
Mid-season
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, Premier League football was suspended on 13 March 2020; following the announcement in early June that the league would be resuming in mid-June, United first played an intra-squad friendly match at Old Trafford, before arranging another friendly against Stoke City for 9 June; however, this match was cancelled after Stoke manager Michael O'Neill tested positive for COVID-19. United did eventually return to action on 12 June, playing two matches against West Bromwich Albion behind closed doors at Old Trafford; West Brom won the first match 2–1, but United won the second 3–1.
DateOpponentsH / AResultF–AScorersAttendance12 June 2020West Bromwich AlbionH1–2Fernandes (pen.)012 June 2020West Bromwich AlbionH3–1Pereira (2), Chong0
Premier League
Matches The Premier League fixtures were announced on 13 June 2019. Manchester United began their season at home to Chelsea on 11 August; a goal in each half from Marcus Rashford, in addition to goals from Anthony Martial and debutant Daniel James, gave United a 4–0 win. United were held to a 1–1 draw by Wolverhampton Wanderers in their next game; Martial opened the scoring with his 50th goal for the club before Rúben Neves equalised with a long-range strike, only for Paul Pogba to miss from the penalty spot midway through the second half. United suffered their first defeat of the season on 24 August, losing 2–1 at home to Crystal Palace. After Jordan Ayew put the Eagles 1–0 up against the run of play with just over half an hour gone, it took until the final minute of normal time for Daniel James to find the equaliser; however, Patrick van Aanholt's injury-time strike gave Palace their first league win over United since May 1991 and their first league win at Old Trafford since December 1989. James continued his goalscoring form in United's final game before the international break away to Southampton, opening the scoring after 10 minutes. Jannik Vestergaard equalised for the home side just before the hour mark, but although Kevin Danso was sent off with 17 minutes to go, United were unable to make their numerical advantage count and the match finished as a 1–1 draw.
United returned to action after the international break with a home game against Leicester City. Marcus Rashford scored the only goal of the game from the penalty spot to give United their first win since the opening day of the season. United's next match, away to West Ham United, ended in a 2–0 defeat, with a goal each from Andriy Yarmolenko and Aaron Cresswell. United then played Arsenal at home; Scott McTominay opened the scoring with his first senior goal at Old Trafford, but Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was awarded the equaliser after the video assistant referee (VAR) overruled the assistant referee's original decision that he was offside. United's final match before the second international break of the season was away to Newcastle United, who won 1–0 thanks to a goal from Matty Longstaff on his senior debut.
United returned to action after the second international break with a home game against arch-rivals Liverpool. Marcus Rashford opened the scoring after a VAR check, as Victor Lindelöf was ruled not to have fouled Divock Origi. The VAR was used again to check a goal scored by Sadio Mané, which appeared to have come off his arm, and was eventually ruled out for handball. Liverpool did manage to find an equaliser through substitute Adam Lallana in the 85th minute to secure a vital point for both teams. The result meant that United ended Liverpool's winning streak at 18 games. On 27 October 2019, Scott McTominay netted United's recordbreaking 2,000th Premier League goal in a 3–1 victory against Norwich City at Carrow Road. Rashford had a penalty saved by Tim Krul a few minutes later, but scored on United's next attack to put them 2–0 up with less than half an hour played. United were awarded a second penalty for a handball by Todd Cantwell, but despite a change of taker, Krul was able to make another save from Martial. Like Rashford, Martial made amends later by scoring United's third goal. Onel Hernández scored a consolation goal for Norwich City in the 88th minute.
To begin November, United made the trip to Bournemouth, where former United striker Joshua King scored on the stroke of half-time to give Bournemouth a 1–0 win. The result dropped United down to 10th position in the league table and gave Bournemouth their first win since September 2019. United's next home match before the third international break of the season was against Brighton & Hove Albion, where goals from Andreas Pereira (his first of the season), Scott McTominay and Marcus Rashford helped United to a 3–1 win. The second goal was initially given as an own goal by Davy Pröpper, but was later awarded to McTominay. United drew against Sheffield United in a game which saw Brandon Williams scoring his first senior goal and Mason Greenwood scoring his first Premier League goal, and Aston Villa, in which Victor Lindelöf scored his first goal of the season, On 4 December, United beat Tottenham Hotspur 2–1 through a Marcus Rashford brace. Three days later, they faced last season's champions Manchester City in the Manchester derby at the Etihad Stadium. Twenty minutes into the first half, United were awarded a penalty, which Rashford converted; five minutes later, Anthony Martial made the scoreline 2–0. Despite a goal for City by Nicolás Otamendi late into the second half, United emerged victorious. A draw against Everton was followed by defeat at Watford. Victories against Newcastle United and Burnley brought the club's decade to a close.
The 2020s was started with a defeat at Arsenal on New Year's Day. Ten days later, United recorded their first win of the decade with a 4–0 demolition of Norwich City; Rashford scored twice, Martial and Greenwood scored once each. On the following three league matches the club failed to score, the first two ended in 2–0 defeats; matches against the runaway league leaders Liverpool and a revenge by Burnley, which turned out to be their last defeat of the season, were followed by a goalless draw against Wolverhampton Wanderers. After the newly introduced winter break, United got full 3 points at Chelsea, extending their undefeated run against the West London club to six matches. Watford was the next victim, falling three goals to nil at Old Trafford. The newly recruited Portuguese midfielder Bruno Fernandes scored the first goal from the spot, his first goal for the club. The fixture against Everton was again ended in a 1–1 draw with David de Gea making an error leading up to the home side's goal before Fernandes' equaliser, his first open play goal for United. The next week, United won 2–0 against Manchester City thanks to a goal by Anthony Martial and a last minute 40-yard volley from Scott McTominay, both of which were the result of goalkeeping errors from City keeper Ederson. The victory completed their first league double over their city rivals since the 2009–10 season.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Premier League matches were suspended on 13 March, initially only until 3 April 2020. The suspension was made indefinite on 5 April 2020. On 28 May, it was announced that the Premier League would return behind closed doors on 17 June.