5) United still adapting to van Gaal
Like it or not, United have had some real rotten phases under Louis van Gaal this season and still don’t look entirely convincing in his system. A strong run of wins recently looked to be restoring some confidence, which is now in tatters again after three defeats on the spin in games they could and perhaps should have won, given their dominance in terms of possession, with only silly defensive errors again proving to be their undoing.