Manchester United are now out of the FA Cup as well, after they suffered a penalty shootout defeat at the hands of Middlesbrough, with Anthony Elanga’s miss proving to be decisive. It must be said though that the Red Devils had more than their fair share of chances to go through and just could not take them. Cristiano Ronaldo missed a spot kick while Bruno Fernandes could not score into an almost empty net.
Now, it looks like Manchester United are headed towards their fifth straight trophyless season unless they can spring a huge surprise and end up lifting the Premier League or the Champions League.
While not impossible, that does feel unlikely. Instead, their focus should be now on finishing in the top four of the Premier League.
But if Manchester United are to even do that, a number of their players will need to improve, with the race tight, with Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur, Arsenal, West Ham United and Wolves also in the running.
Manchester United: 3 players who need to step up
Here are three Manchester United stars who need to step up if they are to finish in the Premier League top four this season:
Marcus Rashford

Although he might be just 24 years of age, Rashford has been a regular in this Manchester United team for years and has almost made 300 appearances for the club.
His recent performances have raised quite a few eyebrows though. According to stats from Transfermarkt, Rashford has scored 5 goals and provided a solitary assist in 18 appearances this season. It is safe to say that those are not impressive numbers for a player of his quality.
Hopefully, he will improve soon. With the amount of competition in the forward department at Old Trafford right now, he could struggle to get into the starting XI on a consistent basis otherwise.
On the other hand, if Manchester United are to finish in the top four, his form could prove to be vital, with Jadon Sancho struggling in his first season in the Premier League.