While there was an acceptance that it would take time for Ruben Amorim to oversee improvement at Old Trafford, few would have expected the Portuguese coach to admit that Manchester United were in a relegation battle within two months of taking over.
A fourth successive defeat in the 2024 final means the Red Devils sit 14th in the Premier League table and seven points above the relegation zone.
Their performance Monday night at Losing 2-0 at home to Newcastle He did not indicate a team capable of organizing any kind of renaissance any time soon. However, things might have turned out differently for the home side had Amorim chosen not to use a 64-year-old midfielder against the Premier League's in-form engine room.
Perhaps the new manager will take solace in knowing that his side at least competed in the final hour against Newcastle, but there is still a feeling that things could get worse for the Red Devils before they get better.
A busy January looms with United involved in three competitions. Here's an overview of their next five matches.
This is what the doctor ordered..
An arduous journey to the league leaders tempts a weakened Amorim team Liverpool Entering their opening showdown of 2025 on a rampant note. The Reds have a good run at the top of the division and have been scoring goals at a steady rate of late.
They have beaten Tottenham by six goals and West Ham by five in two of their previous three matches. Arne Slott's side have lost just once in the league all season and will be determined to defeat their big rivals on Sunday.
Liverpool won the first leg at Old Trafford 3-0 while Erik Ten Hag was still in town, and United have not tasted victory at Anfield since January 2016.
United struggled to put on the gloves Arsenal When the two teams met in north London on 4 December, however, a relatively strong defensive display was undermined by their inability to contain Arsenal from set-pieces. Jorrian Timber and William Saliba were on the scoresheet in the 2-0 win.
The two fierce rivals meet again in the third round of the FA Cup. With United exiting the Carabao Cup in December and sitting mid-table in the Premier League, this competition is of undoubted importance for Amorim this season. They are, of course, the defending champions, and are sure to face a rotating Arsenal side at the Emirates Stadium.
However, they could have achieved an easier draw.
After visiting two of the country's toughest stadiums back-to-back, United were given some respite by facing Southampton at Old Trafford.
The Saints are bottom of the division, but look a slightly tougher team with disciplined Ivan Juric at the helm. The new coach's era began with two painful defeats, but there is reason for optimism.
A potential banana peel for United in this type of shape.
Joao Pedro scored a late goal to give Brighton a memorable 2-1 win in the first leg at the start of the season. The victory came amid a brilliant opening for the Seagulls, but Fabian Horzler's side have struggled to win games of late.
Their last win arrived on November 23 – even United have won games (four to be exact) since then – but they performed well without much reward. Brighton's performance in their draw to conclude 2024 points to a team capable of continuing into the new year. They should be healthier by the time this match starts too.
Manchester United's third successive match arrives at home in the Europa League against a British rival. Amorim oversaw wins over Bodo/Glimt and Viktoria Plzeň at the start of his tenure to leave United in the top eight of the league table.
However, they will be raped if they are beaten by Rangers at Old Trafford. This will be the fifth competitive meeting between the two clubs.
The Scots are a position and a point behind United in the table after drawing with Tottenham at Ibrox in their previous match. This is the penultimate round of the preliminary stage, and United will be keen to avoid playing two extra matches in a bid to reach the last 16.
