Cristiano Ronaldo is a victim of Manchester United's poor planning

It was not the shot against the post, or the offside goal, or the attempt that hit Anthony Elanga on the goal line that epitomised Cristiano Ronaldo's demoralising day, but a free-kick.

In the 38th minute, Ronaldo walked away from a free hit 25 yards from goal. Rio Ferdinand joked back in September Ronaldo should not be allowed to have first dibs on set-pieces. Against Watford, Ronaldo did not even protest as Alex Telles lined up to swing a harmless shot wide.

When the final beep sounded, Ronaldo looked broken. At Old Trafford, the tunnel is located in the south-west corner, rather than on the halfway line as it is at most grounds, so there was no quick getaway. Ronaldo lingered, maybe wondering what he had got himself in for. Maybe wondering what has happened to him.

He sheepishly applauded the Stretford End, his head bowed. That was an admission of guilt. Ronaldo was a missed penalty away from the full profligate set on another afternoon United fired blanks.

A colleague in the press room quipped prior to kick-off Ronaldo resembles a reclusive Bruce Wayne in The Dark Knight Rises before he suits up again. Batman eventually gets broken. Ronaldo looks broken.

Ronaldo has been caught offside 25 times in the Premier League this season - more than any other player. In his five domestic starts in February, he was caught ahead of the last man nine times.

Scan through the list of the most flagged players and there is a trend: Ronaldo, Raul Jimenez, Chris Wood, Jamie Vardy, Callum Wilson and Michail Antonio are all in their 30s and all in need of a head-start. Ivan Toney and Jarrod Bowen, both 25, have spent the bulk of their careers in the Football League.

Ronaldo tops the chart with 25 offsides. Sir Alex Ferguson once