The shocking number of goals Harry Maguire is to blame for

Carlo Garganese

• Updated: 27 Apr 2022 18:17 BST
• 5 min read

If there is one player who has epitomised Manchester United's disastrous season, it is Harry Maguire.

The England centre-back, signed for a world record fee for a defender back in 2019, has endured the worst season of his career.

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As a result he has become a punching bag for the club's fans and the media.

The criticism - or should we say, abuse - has often gone too far. Indeed, last week Maguire even reportedly received a bomb threat to his home last week.

In his first two seasons Maguire was largely steady for United and he enjoyed a superb Euro 2020 last summer as England reached the final, only to be beaten on penalties by Italy.

However, there is no doubt that Maguire’s performances have fallen off the proverbial cliff this season.

Whether it is a Euro 2020 hangover, an injury niggle – he had been suffering with a persistent calf problem in the early months of the season – or something else, Maguire has been dreadful in 2021-22.

What mistakes has Maguire made this season?

Indeed, InStat reveals that Maguire has incredibly made 16 errors leading to opposition goals this campaign.

His first mistake of the season was during Man Utd’s 2-1 defeat in the Champions League to Young Boys on September 14.

With United 1-0 up, Maguire failed to clear a cross from the right which resulted in Nicolas Ngamaleu scoring. In truth, the ball was slightly behind Maguire but this goal has been credited as a mistake by the defender.

Maguire made four further errors leading to goals in the 4-2 defeat at Leicester on October 16, being at fault for every goal his former side scored.

With Man Utd 1-0 up on the half-hour mark, Maguire was pick-pocketed in possession by Kelechi Iheanacho. The Nigerian then passed the ball to Youri Tielemans who curled the ball over De Gea to make it 1-1.

With the scores tied in the 77th minute, Maguire then failed to clear a corner as his poor header went straight to Patson Daka. The Zambian’s strike eventually found its way to Caglar Soyuncu to put Leicester 2-1 up.

After Marcus Rashford had made it 2-2, Leicester immediately scored again from the kick-off as Maguire lost Jamie Vardy, who slashed the ball in. And then in the 90th minute, Maguire was marking Daka at a free-kick but allowed the forward to sneak in behind him to score.

Four days later, Maguire lost Merih Demiral on a corner, which resulted in the Turkey centre back heading home to make it 2-0 to Atalanta in the Champions League. Fortunately, Man Utd launched a comeback to win 3-2 – with Maguire actually scoring his team’s second goal.

But his reprieve was short-lived as later that week Maguire was to blame for two of Liverpool’s goals in the 5-0 thrashing on October 24.

On Diogo Jota’s 2-0 goal he collided with Luke Shaw in the build-up, allowing Trent Alexander-Arnold to cross for the Portuguese to tap in. And on Mohamed Salah’s 3-0, he was caught sleeping as the Egyptian raced in front of him to turn home after Maguire had initially made a block.

Maguire's horror run continued on November 2 as Maguire was at fault for Duvan Zapata’s 2-1 goal for Atalanta as he first played the Colombian onside before missing his tackle as the striker slotted past David de Gea. Again, a late Ronaldo goal rescued United a 2-2 draw.

Maguire went a short period without any errors before committing two in four days between Christmas and New Year.

In the 1-1 draw at Newcastle he was dribbled past by Allan Saint-Maximin who then scored brilliantly. And in the 3-1 win against Burnley he failed to close down Aaron Lennon and left him too much space to slot home.

Maguire was at fault twice in the same move for Burnley's goal in the return fixture in February. He was turned by Wout Weghorst midway in his half, with the Dutchman slotting the ball through to James Rodriguez, who cut across Maguire before scoring. The game finished 1-1.

Man Utd were knocked out of the Champions League in March by Atletico Madrid. In the 1-1 draw in Spain, Maguire completely lost Joao Felix as the attacker headed home unmarked to put Atletico into the lead.

Maguire failed to block Riyad Mahrez's shot in the 4-1 thrashing by Man City in March.

And his final mistake of the season to date was in the 1-0 defeat to Everton on April 9 when he deflected Anthony Gordon's central shot into the net.

It should be noted that InStat are stricter than some other sites when it comes to determining what are mistakes that lead to goals. But given the fact that Maguire has made six more than the entirety of last season shows just how dismal he has been this time around.

Fortunately for him, he may not play again this campaign so that number shouldn't rise any further.