Remember when United were named among the teams in the Premier League title race? Their mid-January victory over Manchester City was their fifth consecutive win in the league, and United were put in the same bracket as City and league-leaders Arsenal.
But, nine league games later, they are facing more of a fight to maintain their place inside the top four, falling to fifth, behind Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur on goal difference, albeit with two games in hand on the latter, after defeat at St James' Park on Sunday.
Since beating City, United have only picked up three wins in the league, with three losses and three draws making up that nine-match run. Losing to Newcastle on Sunday saw them fail to win and even score for the third league game in succession since winning the Carabao Cup.
Wake up calls have come aplenty in recent matches, and declining performance levels are now starting to become somewhat more concerning than merely being reality checks. Their margin inside the top four entirely dissipating is a reflection of declining domestic displays.
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United have started to look feeble in recent games, becoming inferior to some of their league opposition. "I hate to say it, but they were better today," Ten Hag testified after the 2-0 loss against Newcastle.
Both Ten Hag and Luke Shaw blamed a lack of desire for United's subservience, which did appear the case on the pitch but is nonetheless confusing given the extent to which the side's mentality has often been lauded this term.
It is by no means out of the question that complacency could be a factor. A fairly comfortable buffer to Champions League rivals in the league, plus overperformance in cup competitions, could well have given players a false sense of their level. There is a chance that they may have got too comfortable, which could have led to them stepping off the gas somewhat.
Mental wear and tear is entirely possible too - consequential to an exhaustive season that could yet still get quite a bit longer, credit to the undeniable progress made this season even a mid a present lull.
However, physical burnout, which had been attributed as a reason why United had struggled in matches prior to the international break, couldn't be used as an excuse for failing to turn up against Newcastle given the majority of players had some sort of hiatus.
United were simply outplayed. They were placed under pressure at a raucous St James' Park from minute one, and the chances flowed almost entirely for the home side and barely for the visitors. Newcastle's dominance was such that they managed 22 shots to United's six, amassing 3.68 expected goals to United's mere 0.43.
If it wasn't for some strong goalkeeping from David de Gea, the margin could well have been more given the extent to which United invited pressure from their opposition.
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United's performance was error-strewn, and that was exemplified by the first goal they conceded. It commenced from failure to play out from the back effectively, and climaxed with poor defensive discipline allowing Newcastle to unravel them.
Struggles in possession were clear. The goal stemmed from an odd goal-kick routine, where Lisandro Martinez played the ball short to De Gea, whose pass put Raphael Varane under pressure and caused a throw-in to be conceded. Playing out from the back, especially with De Gea involved, isn't yet United's forte.
United twice won the ball back, but each time Scott McTominay was culpable for ceding possession - once after being pressed and then after a weak pass to Anthony Martial. After a missed interception from Bruno Fernandes, expansive football from Newcastle disjointed United's defensive setup.
Shaw them committed himself to no avail, leaving space inside the box for Bruno Guimares to run into - made easy by Marcel Sabitzer not successfully marking his man. At the back post, Diogo Dalot's marking was substandard, although he did find himself overloaded with no support. Allan Saint-Maximin was able to head the ball across to Joe Willock from Guimares' cross as a result, and the move was finished with Raphael Varane doing little to prevent Willock.
Caused by collective errors, it wasn't too dissimilar to some of the concessions in the trouncing against Liverpool at Anfield - another game which has emphasised United's away form as a bone of contention.
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United may count themselves fortunate to have had so many home draws in cup competitions, because their away form in the league has started to verge on wretched.
Of their 50 points amassed in the league, only 20 have come in away matches, which have made up 14 of their 27 games thus far. Six defeats on the road make up all bar one of United's losses in the league this season - the only defeat at home coming against Brighton & Hove Albion on the opening day. Of their 15 league wins, only six have come away.
Goal difference is also a pertinent indication as to how much United have faltered when not on home turf. A goal difference of four on the whole is their worst since the 1989/90 season, but this is skewed by an abject away goal difference of -12 having only scored 17 times. Newcastle are ahead due to a goal difference of 22.
Newcastle aren't so high in the league by coincidence, and few teams have shown up on their travels to St James' Park. But United's performance felt somewhat akin to those which saw capitulations away to Brentford, City and Liverpool.
An absence of massive attacking threat aside from Marcus Rashford is definitely one reason for this. United are incredibly only three points better off than their total at this stage last season, and an inferior goal difference by six, which has been contributed to by a struggle for goals, reflects a reason why.
Relying on Rashford is unsustainable, but Antony's struggles to adapt, Jadon Sancho's issues, Alejandro Garnacho's injury, Martial's dreadful injury record, and Wout Weghorst seeming out of his depth are factors not allowing for many other dimensions to United's attack.
Weghorst has started every game since arriving at the club, yet he has still only scored twice. Touching the ball only 10 times, and snatching at his only shot, in an hour against Newcastle was a damning reflection of his inefficiency, with Martial returning from injury to replace him and immediately adding dynamism while touching the ball 15 times in half the time.
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United are just about getting away with their poor form given others are even more inconsistent. But, in order not to slump further and risk falling behind Spurs after playing their games in hand, they will have to rekindle the consistency shown at stages this season.
However, the longer the season goes on, the more glaring the absence of particular profiles to play the football desired by Ten Hag becomes. This starts with the goalkeeper, with Newcastle often not putting pressure on De Gea due to knowledge of his poor distribution - something essential to play Ten Hag's high-possession football.
Squad depth still needs to improve further, with absentees forcing United into tricky situations. Casemiro and Christian Eriksen have been sorely missed, with no alternative options inspiring the same control. In eight games without Casemiro, United have lost four times - evidence of the need to bolster the midfield.
Unusual tactics were also, in part, caused by absentees. McTominay started as a No.10 against Newcastle, but whether higher up or in a pivot role, which he moved back to in the second half, McTominay's involvement is often too little.
Ten Hag was culpable for taking this risk, just as when he finished the game with a sole centre-back and invited more pressure which led to a second concession from a late corner.
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There is the caveat in the recent winless run that United would likely have beaten Southampton had Casemiro not unfortunately have been sent off with an hour to play. And, as Ten Hag has pointed out, they have beaten Premier League opposition in Fulham, even if it was in bizarre circumstances.
"We played 60 minutes against Southampton with 10 men," he said. "We beat Fulham. We beat Newcastle in the Carabao Cup. So no concerns."
Still, they were outplayed by both Liverpool and Newcastle, and there is especially concern when it comes to away form. Returning to home turf, United will have to, once again, play with a point to prove.
It is a necessity that they make the Champions League - both because it is where the club should be, and because it will make them a far more attractive prospect to possible signings.
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