Manchester United have been sent a £180m transfer message in their last two fixtures

All good things must come to an end, as they say.

Unfortunately for Manchester United, however, one feeling of positivity that they have managed to cling onto throughout the campaign slipped between their fingers at the London Stadium on Sunday evening for the first time. After 20 matches without defeat, Christian Eriksen, Bruno Fernandes and Casemiro experienced being on the losing side for the very first time when starting together.

Eriksen was recalled to the starting line-up at the expense of Fred, who started the 1-0 defeat to Brighton & Hove Albion three days earlier, and teamed up with Casemiro at the base of the midfield. Wout Weghorst, much to everyone's surprise, operated just ahead of them in the No.10 position with Fernandes preferred out wide.

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Although Eriksen, Casemiro and Fernandes did not form the three-man midfield against West Ham United that has served United so well this season, it was the first time that United had lost when all three of them had started. They had won 17 of the previous 20, drawing three.

United, who have now won just one of their last four matches, had to restructure their midfield as a matter of urgency last summer. The likes of Nemanja Matic, Paul Pogba, Juan Mata and Jesse Lingard all departed upon the expiry of their contracts and boss Erik ten Hag wasted no time in forming a new-look approach in the engine room, drafting in Eriksen and then Casemiro a few weeks later.

Working alongside Fernandes, Eriksen and Casemiro have helped transform United's midfield this season, offering them a perfect blend of defensive nous, control, slick passing, an attacking threat and creativity. They have been central to