A quick glance at the Premier League table suggests that the battle for a top-four finish this season is going to be a gripping watch over the next few months.
After an action-packed first day of 2022 in the Premier League, just four points separate Arsenal in fourth place and Manchester United in seventh, with United having played two games less than Mikel Arteta's side.
Arsenal missed the chance to open up a five-point gap on United on New Year's Day, going down 2-1 to table-toppers Manchester City at the Emirates Stadium in dramatic circumstances, with Rodri's instinctive finish sealing all three points for the visitors deep into injury time.
But while some United's supporters will have no doubt raised a glass to Rodri for his heroics, thanking him for keeping the Reds that little bit closer to the top-four, Ralf Rangnick's side now have to take charge of their own matters once again, especially after Tottenham Hotspur defeated Watford and West Ham got the better of Crystal Palace later on New Year's Day.
But despite Tottenham's recent resurgence under Antonio Conte, and West Ham recording back-to-back wins over Watford and Palace in the past week, United — who saw off Burnley on Thursday evening — are currently in the midst of a favourable set of fixtures that could help their cause.
United's next seven league outings, aside from their meeting with West Ham on January 22, are all against sides currently below them in the table, including Monday's clash with Wolves at Old Trafford.
As Rio Ferdinand and Owen Hargreaves boldly predicted on BT Sport last month, this is a golden opportunity for United to lay down a marker and allow Ralf Rangnick and his players to kick on and reach greater heights, with the battle to finish in a Champions League spot poised to go down to the wire, with four clubs in genuine contention for fourth spot.
After facing Wolves, United's next six league fixtures consist of tussles with Aston Villa (A), West Ham (H), Burnley (A), Southampton (H), Leeds (A) and Watford (H). And while the Premier League offers no guarantees, this is a run of fixtures that offers Rangnick's side a strong opportunity to get points on the board in threes.
For a squad of United's credentials, despite their inconsistency this season, this is a collection of games that ought to see them record a healthy points return.
But as we saw in the slender win over Norwich and the forgettable 1-1 draw with Newcastle last month, nothing is a given. United will have to turn up and fight. After all, some of those they're up against in the coming weeks have something worth fighting for themselves: survival.
And despite Arsenal's excellent performance in defeat to City, Tottenham making strides under Conte and West Ham showing glimpses of getting back to their best, United are going to have no choice but to stand up and fight if they want to be rubbing shoulders with Europe's household names in the Champions League next season.
If anything, the continued improvements of those around them could provide United with the kick up the backside they're in need of — just to ensure they continue to take their game and performances to the heights Rangnick demands.
Improvements have been made since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's sacking, but there is, without any shadow of a doubt, more to come from this United side. Now United have no choice but to take charge of their own destiny.
The games in-hand over both Arsenal and West Ham could prove to be vital in this top-four fight and Rangnick has to ensure that his players are focused and prepared to play at full throttle every time they cross the white line between now and the end of the season.
United have often been accused of lacking zest and a spark this season. However, the form of those around them may just provide them with the tonic they have been missing.
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