Manchester United would be in relegation trouble without Cristiano Ronaldo, according to PIERS MORGAN, and the statistics suggest he's not far off.
Liverpool thrashed Manchester United 4-0 in an embarrassingly one-sided contest at Anfield on Tuesday night.
Ronaldo, 37, was unable to participate in the game due to the untimely death of his newborn son.
Without their great attacker, United looked completely impotent in attack.
Liverpool has thrashed United 9-0 in both of their league encounters this season.
The Red Devils have only ever suffered a combined 11-0 defeat in their history, when they lost both games against Sunderland in 1892-93.
Following the defeat, Arsenal supporter Piers predicted that United would struggle to avoid relegation to the Championship without Ronaldo.
"Manchester United would be fighting relegation this season without Ronaldo," Piers wrote on Twitter.
"Tonight's performance was absolutely terrible."
Surprisingly, the numbers suggest he's not far behind.
This season, Ronaldo has 15 Premier League goals to go along with three assists.
United has gained an additional 15 points thanks to their goals and assists, which included match-winning hat-tricks against Norwich and Tottenham.
United are currently in sixth place with 54 points following their loss at Anfield on Tuesday.
Ralf Rangnick's side would be in 12th place in the table without Ronaldo, with 39 points - still one point short of the fabled "40-point" mark that ensures a club's top-flight status.
Worse yet, their goal difference would be a disgraceful -14 - with just 34 goals scored across their 33 games, while shipping 48. In all, without Ronaldo United would have won just NINE matches so far this season, with a further 12 draws and 12 defeats. In many years, that would be considered relegation form. With 39 points, United would be just THREE POINTS above 15th-placed Aston Villa and six ahead of 16th-placed Leeds. In fact, in this Ronaldo-less scenario, if the teams below them all won their games in hand, United would be 15th - perilously close to the drop zone
Worse, their goal differential would be a terrible -14, with only 34 goals scored in 33 games and 48 goals conceded.
United would have won just NINE games this season if it hadn't been for Ronaldo, with another 12 ties and 12 losses.
That would be deemed relegation form in many years.
United would be three points ahead of 15th-placed Aston Villa and six points ahead of 16th-placed Leeds with 39 points.
In fact, assuming the teams below them all won their games in hand in this Ronaldo-less scenario, United would be 15th, perilously near to the drop zone.
The previous time Manchester United finished in the bottom half of the Premier League was in 1989-90, when they finished 13th and Sir Alex Ferguson was sacked.
While fans and analysts like as Roy Keane and Jamie Carragher criticize United's decision to re-sign Ronaldo, it's evident that he's been a huge help this season.
He may not be at his best, but he's helped a dormant squad avoid relegation and even stay in contention for a place in the Champions League
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