Robin van Persie’s double at Southampton has left Louis van Gaal’s side in third place but defender Evans has played enough times against Liverpool to know anything can happen.

Phelan, who spent five years as Sir Alex Ferguson’s right-hand man at Old Trafford before leaving when David Moyes took over the reins in 2013, says the new regime under Louis van Gaal could be the reason for United’s injuries this term.

On paper what looks like a staggeringly good win against a Southampton side who had started the season on fire was actually a far from convincing victory for United.

Robin van Persie’s double secured a 2-1 victory for United – their fifth on the bounce – against Southampton on Monday evening, though they only managed three shots on goal, their lowest tally in a game since 2003.

The 29-year-old ensured Louis van Gaal’s men recorded a fourth straight league victory with a remarkable goal line clearance in the dying moments against Stoke on Tuesday as United seek to pass third-placed Southampton this evening.

United manager Louis van Gaal has again been promised another vast transfer budget to continue re-shaping his United squad, on top of the £150million spent in the last window.

United edged out Mark Hughes’ visitors 2-1 at Old Trafford last night thanks to goals from Marouane Fellaini and Juan Mata.

Van Gaal’s United side face seven games in the next 31 days and a victory in their first, against Stoke City this evening, would see United record four straight wins for only the second time since the departure of Sir Alex Ferguson in 2013.

The 20-times league champions dispatched the Tigers 3-0 at Old Trafford on Saturday, maintaining their place in the top four and extending their winning streak to three games.

The returns of Michael Carrick and the much-maligned Marouane Fellaini have gone some way to adding steel to a midfield that was all but absent in the opening weeks of the season.

Not long into his first season in charge, Van Gaal’s United sit fourth in the Premier League after 12 games but are yet to replicate the performance levels of the side during Sir Alex’s 26-year reign.