Reading Matt Dickinson’s new book,  1999: Manchester United, the Treble, and All Thatin the hours either side of United’s filleting by Manchester City was a wonderful study in contrasts.

Pair ordered to pay money into poor box

Manchester United face Liverpool next Monday and urgent action is required

The 27-year-old Frenchman has a record of discipline issues

Good luck, then, to Erik ten Hag when he arrives this summer to become the eighth person in charge of the dug-out at Old Trafford since 2014.

Fernandes joined from Sporting in January 2020 on a five-and-a-half-year contract, with an option to extend for a further year

The duo have become the ninth and 10th players to be inducted into the Hall of Fame

Pogba discovered that he had been burgled just minutes after United's Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid at Old Trafford, a game in which he had appeared as a second-half substitute.

Cristiano Ronaldo rekindled Manchester United’s hopes of a top-four finish.

Sky Sports pundit slammed United's players for giving up against Man City

The character shown by United's under-achieving stars, who this week faced yet more reports of disharmony in the United dressing room, was impressive.

Manchester lost a two-goal lead but recovered to take the points  

Ralf Rangnick gambled, like Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Michael Carrick before him, by dropping Cristiano Ronaldo from his starting line-up but it was a decision that backfired

It was a spot kick miss in normal time — by Cristiano Ronaldo, no less — that contributed to their downfall

Allowing for the right of innocence until proven guilty, this week has brought shame and much else.

Greater Manchester Police said it had been made aware of online social media images and videos posted by a woman reporting incidents of physical violence'

Manchester United have issued a statement confirming forward Mason Greenwood will not train with or play for the club until further notice.

The 33-year-old defender moves to Old Trafford having spent the 2021 season in the US with North Carolina Courage

Another VAR farce #1VAR intervened to spoil an entertaining game at Selhurst Park, as Crystal Palace attempted to equalise after being steamrolled by Liverpool for half an hour, then outplaying them for much of the second half.

The England International turned in a cross from fellow substitute Edinson Cavani at the far post to keep United firmly in the chase for fourth place.

Bruno Lage’s well-drilled side outfought and out-thought the hosts on their return from an enforced two-week due to coronavirus-related postponements

After making an emotional return to the United first team — 708 days after his previous appearance — Jones gave his all for a team that struggled to find its rhythm

Shaw said United’s performance was as disappointing as the result on an evening when they were outfought and out-thought

Phil Jones, making his first appearance in 708 days, was one of the few to impress for United, who belatedly showed flickers of life after Rangnick’s decision to take off lively attacker Mason Greenwood was booed

The 34-year-old has scored 19 goals in 49 appearances for the Red Devils since Paris St Germain’s all-time top scorer joined on a free transfer in October 2020

To say the Scot has been a hard act to follow is perhaps the greatest understatement in 21st century football

His reputation with reporters was fearsome, so naturally there was some trepidation from me as a young writer tasked with getting his thoughts each week, writes Gerry Cox

Lindelof has not played for the Red Devils since the 1-0 win at Norwich on December 11, a match where he had to be replaced in the second half due to breathing difficulties.

Ralf Rangnick has admitted he has not made as much progress as he might have hoped in stamping his authority on Manchester United.

It was Manchester United’s attitude that most upset their former defender Neville, with Cristiano Ronaldo one of several players who appeared to spend more time on the pitch arguing

Lindelof, who was given a heart monitor to try to get to the bottom of the problem, was said by the club to have been recovering well, but he now faces a period out after contracting Covid-19

Martial became the world’s most expensive teenage footballer when United signed him from Monaco in September 2015

Klopp has said he would think twice about signing unvaccinated players and fellow German Rangnick has now reiterated those worries and its potential impact on any United dealings during the January transfer window

"You could almost blame MUTV for putting him in that position because if you know Roy, he's not going to hold back."

There's only one thing challenging Christmas, the Covid crisis and St Stephens’s Day fixtures for column inches in Premier League football this year - and that’s the January sales.

Only the injured Paul Pogba is unavailable at St James’ Park, with interim manager Rangnick admitting he has major selection decisions to make after 25 outfield players trained on Wednesday

United closed Carrington for an initial 24 hours eight days ago and their Premier League games at Brentford and at home against Brighton were postponed

Wan-Bissaka admitted earlier this year to driving while disqualified and without insurance after being stopped by police in Manchester on June 23 returning from a break abroad

“All indications are that this is not linked to any Covid outbreak within the club.”

Only a dozen cases were reported last week but Covid-19 outbreaks have hit several top-flight clubs in the last few days, including Manchester United

Technical problems and a material error resulted in the original draw being declared void

Oh to be a fly on the wall should Cristiano Ronaldo pay a visit to Sascha Lense, the sports psychologist brought in to Manchester United by Ralf Rangnick.

The rest of the squad trained outdoors and the schedule was adjusted to individual and non-contact sessions.

Pogba is undergoing warm-weather recovery work in Dubai following a thigh injury suffered on international duty last month