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“Maybe after this weekend we shall have another group because players shall go away and others shall come in,” said Van Gaal in August, as deadline day approached.

He was addressing questions about whether his squad, as things stood, was good enough to finish in the top four after picking up just two points from their opening three league games against Swansea, Sunderland and Burnley.

It was a soft start to Van Gaal's reign. But after three games, they were 14th in the table behind Queens Park Rangers, Hull and Sunderland.

Van Gaal finally got his 'new group' with Daley Blind, Radamel Falcao and Marcos Rojo added to Luke Shaw, Ander Herrera and Angel Di Maria.

Meanwhile, Javier Hernandez, Shinji Kagawa, Nani, Danny Welbeck and Tom Cleverley, who all featured in the first three games, were allowed to leave.

Van Gaal has taken plenty of criticism this season for spending more than £150m in the summer and delivering a team that is only battling for a place in the top four.

But had the season started on deadline day, United would be just one point behind Chelsea and challenging for the Premier League title.

Since Van Gaal has had his settled group of players, United have picked up 57 points to Chelsea's 58.

If the season had started on September 1, after the transfer window had closed, Manchester City and Arsenal would have 55 points, Southampton would have 49 points, followed by Liverpool on 48 points and Tottenham on 47 points.

United since deadline day 27 League games 17 League wins 4 League defeats

There's an element of guesswork to all this. The season, of course, didn't start in September and United didn't begin with a 4-0 home win over QPR. Instead, it was a 2-1 defeat to Swansea.

But it hints that United aren't as far away from a title challenge as the league table suggests.

It also counters the argument they have only just started to find their feet. Wins over Tottenham and Liverpool have put United in the driving seat for a place in next season's Champions League.

But they have consistently picked up points during the season, winning six league games in a row in November and December and never going more than three games without a win.

Premier League top 7 since deadline day

United's transition wasn't consigned to the summer, instead carrying on well into the season.

Chelsea and Manchester City had 14 players in their 18-man squads for both the opening game of the season and last weekend.

But only nine of United's squad at Anfield were in the 18 for the opening day defeat to Swansea. A lot has changed.

Victory at Anfield has kept Van Gaal on track to finish in the top four and meet his primary target in his first season. Next season, however, he'll be expected to deliver at least a credible title challenge.

The table, as it stands, doesn't show it. But they might be closer than many think.

MORE: United fans decide who they want to keep and sell this summer.