The busy Premier League festive period has reached its climax. The three games over Christmas and New Year saw Manchester United stretch their unbeaten run to 10 games and remain in third position in the table. Louis Van Gaal’s men now sit nine points behind joint leaders Chelsea and Manchester City, but just one point clear of Southampton, who secured a vital victory over sixth-placed Arsenal on New Year’s Day. United face the Saints at Old Trafford in their next league game.

A comfortable 3-1 victory over Newcastle on Boxing Day, inspired by a Wayne Rooney brace, was followed up two days later by a drab 0-0 draw at Spurs and on New Year’s Day with another draw, this time a 1-1 encounter away at Stoke City, a game which saw Radamel Falcao salvage a point for United.

Here are five key thoughts following United’s busy festive schedule.

1) United’s troubles on the road continue to cost them valuable points

Only Chelsea, who are yet to drop a point at Stamford Bridge, have a better home record than United in the Premier League this season but their patchy away form is costing them valuable points. The Red Devils have only won two of their 10 away league games under Van Gaal and even those victories away at top four rivals Arsenal and Southampton were by no means conclusive.

The frustrating stalemate at Spurs should have yielded three points, after a string of big chances were spurned and the 1-1 draw at Stoke may have been a fairer result, but it is the sort of game that you have to win if you are to become genuine title contenders. United’s six draws on the road have been a result of Van Gaal attempting to avoid defeat rather than taking more risks to secure the three points. You get the feeling that results will improve but in truth, the performances away from Old Trafford have not been good enough this season.

2) It’s time for Falcao to become the main man

Radamel Falcao has now started the last four league games for the first time in his United career and he is beginning to show signs of real sharpness. The Colombians equaliser at the Britannia Stadium was his third goal for United and it is now time for him to go on a scoring streak to establish himself as the main man at Old Trafford. He may have been substituted despite being the Red Devils’ best player on the day but Van Gaal knows his own players fitness levels and may well have been saving him for the January schedule.

Falcao’s name strikes fear into opposition defences. He is the ultimate poacher and all of his goals for United have come within seven yards of the goal to further emphasise this point. If he was able to find his top form then United will be virtually guaranteed Champions League football next season as his career goal record is almost unrivalled.

3) United are missing Angel Di Maria and need to sign another winger

Di Maria returned from a month out in the draw at Aston Villa just before Christmas but suffered another setback in the aftermath. His return from his pelvic injury cannot come soon enough as United have missed his spark in the Argentines absence. When fit, Di Maria offers something different which United’s other midfielders’ lack. His pace and directness on the ball have been missing, particularly on the road when the Red Devils have needed some inspiration.

Reverting back to three central defenders is partly down to a lack of depth in the full-back area and quality wingers in this United squad. Adnan Januzaj has so far failed to live up to expectation this season after a fantastic season under David Moyes and may be loaned out this month. It means that Van Gaal will have to invest in another quality wide man to work in sync with Di Maria if he wants to play a more conventional system.

4) With Valencia and Young injured, could four at the back return?

The festive period saw United’s injury list shorten significantly but Antonio Valencia and Ashley Young, who have been utilised as wing backs by Van Gaal recently, have unfortunately been confined to the treatment room. It means that with Rafael and Luke Shaw, United’s only two natural full backs, returning from their own lay-offs, a return to four at the back could be on the cards.

It is a great shame for Valencia and Young as they had both began to win over their critics, following an excellent few games in which their end product had improved significantly. Both wide men have been constantly scrutinised by United fans for a long time now but, along with Marouane Fellaini, the duo have been much improved since Van Gaal took over. But now it seems they will lose their place in the side to the returning Rafael and Shaw.

5) Jonny Evans is fighting for his United career

I spoke up about Evans’ shocking form this season following the recent draw at Aston Villa but if anything, his performances declined even further over Christmas and New Year. When Nemanja Vidic and Rio Ferdinand left Old Trafford in the summer, he was expected to relish the role as United’s senior central defender but it just hasn’t materialised. There was even talk of Evans being handed the captaincy in the summer, a thought which just seems laughable now.

The Northern Irishman looks shaky whenever he takes to the field and his misery was summed up against Stoke when he was out-muscled by former-United striker Mame Biram Diouf in the first half. Fortunately for Evans his lapse was not punished by the Senegalese but it was a sign that he must step up or face a very swift United exit.