Ole Gunnar Solskjaer clearly felt he could not change a winning side so plumped for the same 11 as in the previous four victories.
It backfired. Ralph Hasenhuttl's side were more energetic and pressed United into submission on Monday night. After a record four consecutive victories by a three-goal margin, it quickly became clear that there wouldn't be a fifth.
Even as United tried to close out a 2-1 win, having belatedly made changes to that settled 11 that had tired badly, they lacked clarity of thought.
They lacked freshness and innovation in their ideas when trying to keep the ball and mount attacks. They ceded ground and Michael Obafemi's equaliser was coming; it was deserved.
Read more on manchestereveningnews.co.uk