Next three games will show how far Manchester United have fallen this season

Manchester United’s next game has just got tougher. Everton being slapped with a 10-point deduction will only rile Goodison Park into a crucible ahead of their Premier League return against Erik ten Hag’s side.

There is no respite for United in the matches after either. The Reds take on Galatasaray in a must-win Champions League tie inside the cauldron that is RAMS Park. A hostile trip to St James’ Park then follows to at the start of December.

Chelsea come to town four days after the trip to Tyneside with Bayern Munich and Liverpool - their fourth away game in this run - scheduled before Christmas. We are about to see where United really are.

READ MORE: United have a transfer priority they can no longer ignore

READ MORE: Palace chairman breaks silence on United links with Dougie Freedman

The club are, on paper, the Premier League’s in-form side with four wins in their last five outings in the competition. However, all of those victories have come by one-goal margins against Brentford, Sheffield United, Fulham and Luton Town.

Defeats to Manchester City in the Premier League, to Newcastle in the League Cup and to Copenhagen in the Champions League have been more impactful.

Performances have lacked taste and vigour and fans are right to be concerned about the forthcoming schedule, especially with injuries mounting once again.

Amidst it all, United have actually won three straight away league games. However, these have come over Burnley, Sheffield United and Fulham - teams United expect to dominate.

Bruno Fernandes this month replicated Alejandro Garnacho’s 2022 feat of scoring a stoppage-time winner at Craven Cottage. The latter denoted United’s only win against a top 10 side throughout all of last season.

In fact,