If Manchester United could bottle their end-of-year form, perhaps their struggles over the past decade would have long been consigned to history.
Substitute Marcus Rashford's goal gave United a 1-0 victory over Wolves on Saturday, continuing a theme of strong form at this time of year.
The Red Devils have not lost their final league game in a calendar year since suffering a 3-2 defeat to Blackburn Rovers in 2011, winning eight and drawing three of their 11 matches since.
Here, Stats Perform looks at United's impressive run, as Erik ten Hag aims to mastermind a resurgence for the team who were last champions of England in the 2012-13 season.
Blackburn's birthday blues for Ferguson
Alex Ferguson turned 70 on December 31, 2011. His team neglected to deliver a worthy present, though, as they stumbled to a 3-2 home defeat against Blackburn, who began the day at the foot of the Premier League.
United would have gone top with three points, usurping neighbours Manchester City, but Yakubu's two goals put Blackburn into a shock 2-0 lead, and although Dimitar Berbatov replied with a double, Grant Hanley headed a winner for Steve Kean's team.
Of those involved that day, two players remain at United, with David de Gea still first choice as goalkeeper. Phil Jones, the other survivor, was a player United picked up from Blackburn, expecting great things. He is still at United, but you would hardly know it, given Jones has not made a first-team appearance this season.
Come the end of the 2011-12 campaign, Manchester City took the title on goal difference from United, a first English league crown in 44 years, while Blackburn were relegated.
Ferguson's birthday and New Year's Eve celebrations began on a bum note, and United have made sure to finish the year in a more assured manner ever since.
Signing off on a high
Ferguson's last Christmas and New Year stretch as United boss saw his team harvest 10 points from four games from December 23 to January 1.
On their final outing in 2012, an own goal from Gareth McAuley and a late clincher from Robin van Persie secured a 2-0 win at home against West Brom on December 29.
That was the beginning of the 11-game unbeaten stretch in year-ending league games for United, and it was another important stepping stone on their march to winning the title by 11 points.
Since then, United have had year-end league wins against Norwich City, Middlesbrough, Bournemouth, Burnley (twice) and Wolves (twice), while managing draws against Tottenham, Chelsea and Southampton.
Is United's run a record?
It's not even a club record. United had a run of 13 unbeaten year-end league games between 1955 and 1967, so Ten Hag's team have some way to go to beat that tally.
Manchester City put together a 14-game unbeaten streak in their final Premier League fixture of the year from 2002 to 2015. It came to an end on New Year's Eve in 2016, when Georginio Wijnaldum's early header earned Liverpool a 1-0 win over Pep Guardiola's men at Anfield.
Manchester United 7-0 Barnsley: Rampant Rashford nets twice in EFL Cup rout
Marcus Rashford was on target again with a double as Manchester United demolished third-tier Barnsley 7-0 at Old Trafford in the EFL Cup third round.
Rashford had scored his first goal since mid-March in Saturday's Premier League victory at Southampton, after which Erik ten Hag predicted more would follow.
And the United manager was quickly proven right as Rashford grabbed the first and fifth goals on Tuesday, helping to fire the Red Devils into the last 16 of the EFL Cup.
Rashford, who netted in United's final victory over Newcastle United in this competition two seasons ago, appeared full of confidence after 16 minutes as he brought down Alejandro Garnacho's crossfield pass, skipped past Marc Roberts and blasted into the top corner.
The exiled England international was not alone among United's under-fire forwards in enjoying a productive game in front of goal either, with Antony getting his first of the season by winning and converting a penalty.
It was three on the stroke of half-time as Garnacho prodded in after Rashford was tackled in the area, and the excellent Argentina winger scored again shortly after the restart.
Rashford raced onto another Garnacho pass and finished coolly just before the hour mark, before Christian Eriksen added a late brace of his own.
Data Debrief: He shoots, he scores
It was hard to foresee Rashford's three-goal week prior to the Southampton match – primarily because the United number 10 was not shooting, let alone scoring.
Rashford appeared in United's first three Premier League matches of the season without even attempting a shot, but Barnsley's goal was subjected to target practice on Tuesday as his confidence returned.
Those two Rashford goals came from six attempts, including five from inside the box as he thrived in a central striking role after so often toiling on the left wing.
Kane makes English history after passing Rooney's Champions League mark
Harry Kane stretched to further record-breaking ground by surpassing Wayne Rooney for the most goals by an English player in Champions League history.
Bayern Munich forward Kane opened the scoring against Dinamo Zagreb with a penalty at the Allianz Arena on Tuesday.
That moved the England captain level with former Manchester United star Rooney on 30 Champions League strikes, the joint-most by any player from their country.
Kane later eased past Rooney's mark in the second half, powering home his 31st strike in the competition to take the outright English record.
Kane netted eight times in UEFA's top club competition last season, his most in a single edition, and has got off to a blistering start in the revamped 2024-25 format.
His second finish of the game helped Bayern to a 4-2 lead before Michael Olise's second goal extended the hosts' advantage further shortly after.
Seattle Sounders v San Jose Earthquakes: Hosts chasing post-season berth at Lumen Field
Seattle Sounders will hope to make the most of their home advantage when they host San Jose Earthquakes, as Brian Schmetzer's side aim to further their MLS playoffs bid.
The Sounders are fifth in the Western Conference standings after their 2-0 victory over Sporting Kansas City last time out.
Schmetzer's men are nine points adrift of West leaders LA Galaxy heading into this clash at Lumen Field, where the Sounders hope to improve further in their post-season chase.
"[We have] to keep the momentum going, but one game at a time," said centre-back Jackson Ragen. "Keep winning, and then keep that going in the playoffs.
"This is the home stretch, and every game is huge, because it's going to come down to our position in the playoffs."
Midfielder Paul Rothrock echoed a similar sentiment, adding: "We have threats from a lot of different areas, and that's what's brought success this season.
"I think having a lot of weapons going into the postseason is going to be crucial and also having a locker room full of guys that are pushing together."
San Jose have endured a tough season to date, sitting bottom of the Sounders' division, but the visitors did defeat Seattle 3-2 in the reverse meeting this campaign.
They are the only team out of playoff contention already, owing to a woeful term, with Ian Russell's men only winning five games all season.
Russell will be desperate the tide turns on the road in Seattle on Thursday.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Seattle Sounders – Raul Ruidiaz
The Earthquakes must be wary of Raul Ruidiaz, given he has scored nine career regular-season goals against San Jose, having only managed more against the Timbers (10).
Only three players (Jeff Cunningham and Preki – 11, Paul Bravo – 10) have scored more goals against the Earthquakes in MLS history, with Ruidiaz dangerously close to reaching those heights here.
San Jose Earthquakes – Cristian Espinoza
Seattle may be quaking in their booths thinking of San Jose's Cristian Espinoza, who has been involved in eight goals (five goals, three assists) in five matches against the Sounders since the start of the 2022 season.
The only player to record more goal contributions against a single opponent in that time is Espinoza himself against Los Angeles FC (nine), and the Earthquakes star will fancy carrying that run on here.
MATCH PREDICTION – SEATTLE SOUNDERS WIN
The Sounders are the overriding favourites for this clash, given their strong recent head-to-head record and San Jose's drab form.
Seattle have won six of their last seven regular season home matches (L1), including the aforementioned win over SKC on Sunday.
The Sounders had managed just four wins in their previous 19 home league matches (D10 L5) dating back to May 2023, but have since turned a corner – and things may continue to improve here.
San Jose's defeat at Vancouver on Saturday was their 21st loss in 28 matches in the 2024 regular season. Another reverse would equal the second-most losses in a single season in the post-shootout era (since 2000) as only D.C. United (24 losses) in 2013 lost more than 22 times in a season.
Yet not all visiting hope is lost, considering San Jose have won three straight matches against Seattle for the second time (also in 2012—13). Overall, The Earthquakes are unbeaten in four straight visits to Seattle in all competitions (W2 D2).
OPTA WIN PROBABILITY
Seattle Sounders win – 68.5%
Draw – 17.5%
San Jose Earthquakes win – 14%
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