It is seven years since Manchester United last won the English Premier League title, and they haven’t got close since. In terms of points, the 81 points they took in 2017/18 has been the best they’ve done since, when they finished 19 points off the top.

The 2012/13 season was Sir Alex Ferguson’s final season in charge of the Red Devils, and he led United into the season on the back of one of the most dramatic signings the club had made in Ferguson’s 28 years at the club’s helm.

In pinching Robin Van Persie from Arsenal, United had arguably the best two strikers in the league, with Wayne Rooney fast on his way to becoming United’s record goalscorer. United had lost the previous league title on goal difference with both United and City accumulating 89 points. While many would refer to the changes made at Old Trafford signaling a final flourish for Fergie’s team, United only maintained that level, taking 89 points again, scoring the exact-same number of goals, just conceding 10 more. That defensive dip was to hint at the years to come, but back in the pre-season period, it was all about integrating Van Persie into the side.

One of the biggest problems in previous years, certainly the 2011/12 season, was United’s inability to start the season well. That looked set to continue when they suffered a 1-0 defeat to Everton on the opening weekend, but four successive wins, including a 2-1 victory against Liverpool at Anfield helped calmed some of the nerves, with Van Persie proving the clutch forward at the death as 10-man Liverpool first led then lost.