After Manchester United marked the first game of Ralf Rangnick's tenure with a 1-0 home win over Crystal Palace last December, the pundits on the club's in-house TV station cast an eye over the next eight fixtures and suggested they could all be won. After 90 minutes, they had seen enough to be convinced.
There were some encouraging signs that day at Old Trafford. Rangnick's players — freed from the uncertain management of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer — played on the front foot, tried to press and offered more energy to their play.
All were recognisable Rangnick trademarks but none of them were to last.