Stop Klopp, stun Arsenal and thrash Everton - Manchester United's route to a successful season

The chances of Manchester United saving their season are getting slimmer by the week. It is early March and they have a negative goal difference and have lost 42% of their games this season.

Given those stats, it's remarkable that there is still a route to making this season a success, although it is becoming increasingly implausible and it could be that this month signals the death knell for United's 2023/24 and the beginning of the end for Erik ten Hag.

The Dutchman is under increasing pressure as Ineos assess their options ahead of the summer and the manner of the performance at the Etihad on Sunday, in what was Ten Hag's 100th game in charge, will raise more concerns for Sir Jim Ratcliffe, Sir Dave Brailsford and the key decision-makers. To have any chance of surviving into next season, Ten Hag has to deliver some kind of successful end to this season, whether that is winning the FA Cup, securing Champions League qualification, or quite possibly both.

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The problem for Ten Hag is that both of those events are considered unlikely. Very unlikely, in fact, if the bookmakers' odds are to be believed. The 54-year-old is a shorter price to be the next Premier League manager to lose their job than United are to win the FA Cup or finish in the top four.

So, if this season is to be remembered in any meaningful way, how can Ten Hag and United go about it? Some good fortune will be required. The return of Rasmus Hojlund in the next couple of weeks cannot come soon enough and the sight of Lisandro Martinez in a club tracksuit at the Etihad might lead to hope that he