Should Manchester United lose to visiting Swansea City on Saturday, David Moyes's side will have suffered four consecutive defeats in three different competitions.
A six-game winning streak has soon been forgotten, and Sir Alex Ferguson's replacement is now under the biggest black cloud of his Red Devils reign following consecutive cup disappointments, one of which came at the hands of Swansea five days ago.
United have already dropped more home points this term than they did throughout the entirety of last campaign, although their next opponents at Old Trafford are winless in six Premier League games.
Wayne Rooney will provide them with a much-needed boost if he can pass a late fitness test on the groin injury that has kept him out of the club's last two matches, but Robin van Persie, Nani, Ashley Young, Rio Ferdinand, and Marouane Fellaini are all unavailable, and there are other United players nursing knocks.
Jonny Evans and Phil Jones are doubts and should they fail to recover from injury, Moyes will have little choice but to partner Nemanja Vidic and Chris Smalling in central defence. Ryan Giggs is not expected to play successive games, and therefore Shinji Kagawa could be recalled to support striker Danny Welbeck.
Like United, Swansea have been badly hit by injuries and are still without their top scorer from last season, Michu, who is a month away from a return from his foot injury. Wilfried Bony, the match winner in the two sides' FA Cup third-round tie on Sunday, will lead the Swans line again in his absence.
Pablo Hernandez, Roland Lamah and Michel Vorm probably won't feature again this month for the Welsh outfit, and Michael Laudrup's attacking midfield options are further depleted by Nathan Dyer and Jonathan de Guzman being sidelined with calf and ankle problems respectively.
Jose Canas therefore may be recalled in the centre of the park, while Jonjo Shelvey could operate in a more advanced role. Ben Davies will come in at left-back in place of Jordi Amat, but Dwight Tiendalli should hold off pressure from Angel Rangel to start on the right side of Swansea's defence.
Recent form
United: LWWWWL
Swansea: LDLLDD
Possible starting lineups
United: De Gea; Rafael, Vidic, Evans, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Cleverley, Januzaj; Kagawa, Welbeck
Swansea: Tremmel; Tiendalli, Chico, Williams, Davies; Canas, Britton; Pozuelo, Shelvey, Routledge; Bony
Sports Mole says: 2-1
Joe Fish
