The writing was on the wall for Manchester United the moment striker Robin van Persie was declared a non-starter for their derby against Manchester City on Sunday.
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Even with Wayne Rooney producing an energetic display, the loss of the Dutchman with a groin injury left United toothless against a City side who revelled in a 4-1 victory at the Etihad.
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Van Persie's 26 league goals were the reason United claimed the title last season, his timely interventions often papering over some obvious cracks.
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Deprived of him against City, David Moyes would have hoped for a more robust response from the likes of Antonio Valencia, Ashley Young, Danny Welbeck and new signing Marouane Fellaini but instead his side produced a powderpuff performance.
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In the first half in particular, United offered nothing going forward and only when City seemed to take their foot off the gas with the points already secure did they threaten.
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Moyes said the loss of Van Persie had been a blow, although he refused to use it as an excuse for a performance that asked serious questions about the quality of United's squad.
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"Our squad is really strong, obviously we miss Robin van Persie, it's a huge miss to anyone," Moyes told a news conference. "It was a big miss for us, yes.
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"I don't think it's (his injury) that bad. He just felt something in his groin, he's actually done a little bit of training in the last couple of days.
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"He didn't want to aggravate it."
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England winger Young offered little threat for United and was substituted shortly after Samir Nasri put City 4-0 ahead in the 50th minute with Tom Cleverley taking his place.
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Welbeck, despite his fast rise to England international, was also quiet, leaving Rooney to furrow tirelessly in a lost cause.