Comparing Manchester United's 2013-14 Statistics to Their 2014-15 Figures

Manchester United manager Louis van Gaal is so self-confident that he very rarely gets rattled in press conferences. His unwavering belief in what he's trying to do makes it easy for him to laugh off much of the criticism.

But after the defeat to Southampton at Old Trafford in January—a result that meant, after 21 league games, he had an identical record to what David Moyes posted when managing United last season—he reacted angrily when it was put to him that the loss was evidence that United had not improved since their last campaign.

In a brief exchange, carried by the Manchester Evening News, Van Gaal accused reporters of waiting for the moment to stick in the knife.

"

So you have waited on the moment you can put this to me this season.

All the weeks, you have waited to put this season. The moment I have same points as David Moyes. I didn't make it better.

That is what I am always saying, we have to be better, we have to improve. That is why we are working very hard. All the training sessions, all the meetings, we are working at that.

"

It was no surprise that Van Gaal bristled at comparisons to a manager who will be remembered as one who inherited the champions and finished seventh in the Premier League table. But two months later, the statistics are much more favourable. 

Moyes never won at any of the Premier League's big grounds during more than a decade as the manager of Everton. It was a trend that he continued at Old Trafford, losing at Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool, while also drawing at Arsenal.

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United picked up just six points against the top seven teams last season. If those teams—Manchester City, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Everton, Tottenham and United—had been in their own mini-league, United would have finished bottom.

But against the top seven this season, United have won 17 points. No other team has performed better. 

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It's also noteworthy that if the season had started on deadline day, when each club had a settled squad, United would be second in the table, just a point behind leaders Chelsea, and preparing for a tilt at the title in the April 18 run-in with the table's top team.

Of course, United's poor start to the season means that they won't win the Premier League this year. But it suggests the squad that Van Gaal has built, which was only finished on deadline day, is not that far away from title contention.

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The aftermath of the 1-0 home defeat to Southampton was the first time that awkward comparisons with Moyes were put to Van Gaal. Had it gone on any longer, it would have inevitably led to awkward questions about his suitability for the job.

But eight games before the end of the season, the mood is much more positive. That's what winning at Anfield does for a United manager. 

More than that, Van Gaal has made sure that questions about his predecessor have been put to bed. The only comparison to be made with Moyes and last season is that—actually, there's no comparison at all.