Inconsistency has been one of the biggest issues of the Manchester United team this season.
They frustrated Liverpool at Anfield to come away with a point just a week after a 3-0 hammering at Bournemouth.
The Red Devils then slumped to a dismal 2-0 defeat at West Ham United only to bounce back and stun title contenders Aston Villa with a 3-2 success.
United have two different sides and we don’t know what we are going to get in a particular game.
The team’s Boxing Day success against Villa was their 10th league victory in 2023-24 – a season in which they have also lost eight times and suffered a draw.
Erik ten Hag, who has recently been facing plenty of scrutiny, must be delighted with Tuesday’s result that lifted them to sixth in the league standings.
However, the Dutchman will have to deliver many more performances like this if he wants to survive at Old Trafford beyond the summer.
The best-case scenario for the club would be a top-four finish in the Premier League.
But the chances of that happening look very slim, given the quality of the teams above them.
Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City are miles ahead of United at the moment, and they are all vying for the Premier League title.
Aston Villa and Tottenham Hotspur have also had excellent campaigns and are hoping to secure Champions League football for next year.
Overtaking any of them will be a big challenge for the Red Devils, who have numerous issues in their squad.
However, Ten Hag is expected to have all his key players back from injury by next month, including Casemiro, Lisandro Martinez, Mason Mount and Harry Maguire.
And with Sir Jim Ratcliffe completing the 25% investment in the club, the addition of a few new players in January is also likely.
But a top-four finish would be a big ask for United who look more likely to seal a place in the Europa League.
Finishing outside the top six would be the worst-case scenario for the Red Devils. If that happens, Ten Hag would probably be sacked.