Erik Ten Hag has been labelled by several audiences as the best Manchester United manager since Alex Ferguson – however, United’s concerning recent form cannot be ignored.

Since defeating Newcastle United in the final of the League Cup, the Red Devils have been somewhat underwhelming. In their most recent Premier League fixture, they played out a dour 0-0 draw with Southampton in a game where star man Casemiro was sent off. Many saw the red card as harsh – but that is beside the point.

It was a dire performance from United – one of the worst they have delivered all season. Worse still, it did nothing to wash away the sour taste left by the 7-0 thumping at the hands of Liverpool.

Despite this, they have picked up a pair of good wins since the Liverpool game. They thumped Real Betis by a score of 4-1 in the first leg of their Europa League tie – they also defeated David Moyes’ West Ham in the FA Cup by a score of 3-1.

United’s relatively poor performances in the Premier League could be chalked up to squad fatigue. Against Liverpool, the whole team looked tired, as the Scousers pressed hard for the full 90 minutes. Against Southampton, the situation was similar – while the Red Devils were the better side, the Saints were relentless in their pressure.

However, Betis and West Ham didn’t press Ten Hag’s team nearly as hard. United were able to go about their business as their opponents retreated into a defensive shell, allowing them to dictate the pace.

In conclusion, while United may have picked up some poor results as of late, there is no reason for alarm bells to be sounded yet. The Red Devils are still firmly within the top four – they would need to slip up spectacularly to miss out on qualifying for the Champions League next year. Despite this, high-pressing teams are becoming all the more common in modern football – Ten Hag will need to find a reliable way to beat them.