Erik ten Hag has 19 days to come up with a new Manchester United plan

Manchester United's only real interest in the Premier League this weekend will come on Monday night, when Brighton and Hove Albion can go above them or when Wolves can close go enough to leapfrog Erik ten Hag's side at Molineux at the start of February.

This is a quiet month for the Premier League and a quiet month for United, although they should get used to the lull in the second half of the season given the total absence of European football. A couple of kind FA Cup draws should at least serve as a distraction from a league campaign that remains miserable.

United have now won just one of their last six Premier League games and the 2-2 draw with Tottenham last weekend looks better on paper than it did on the pitch. Ange Postecoglou's side were a class above their hosts and should have won.

ALSO READ: Early Onana return might not be good news for United

ALSO READ: Brailsford leaves Ineos cycling role during United work

That is the continuation of an alarming trend this season. Having built their success on a measly defence and an in-form Marcus Rashford last season, Ten Hag's attempts to play "proactive, brave, dynamic" football are regularly coming unstuck. Far too often the other team just looks to have a better structure to their play.

That was the case last weekend. Despite the Postecoglou era consisting of just 23 games so far, Tottenham stayed true to their principles. Their movement came with a purpose and when they had possession there was a clear plan of attack. You couldn't say the same about United.

Ten Hag has been unfortunate this season with injuries and illness which means he has been unable to field a settled team. But there was a clear sense in pre-season that he was taking this team on tactically.