Twelve points adrift of Manchester City is a damning indication of how poor a start Manchester United have made to the 2018 / 2019 Premier League season.
If Manchester United, with Jose Mourinho in the managerial hot-seat, are intent on pushing their near-neighbours all the way, this season, for the title, then they simply cannot afford any more slip-ups.
Twelve points is, when you consider the calibre of Manchester City’s squad, an enormous gap and one I personally believe is too large to close.
But, we can but hope.
This weekend, Manchester United play host to Crystal Palace, after the Premier League season resumes after yet another, the third, international break.
Palace, managed by the veteran Roy Hodgson, are a difficult side to beat whilst also possessing the ability to pull off a shock, it is a game that, unless Manchester United stamp their mark on it, could be a troublesome one.
My personal view is that it is a game that Manchester United will win but it is a fixture that could be decided by the odd goal in three.
Here at Vital Manchester United, we’re interested in how you perceive this game going and we’d like you to take a moment to participate in our poll, relating to the game: