Amorim's side will be severely weakened by the month-long absences of Amad Diallo, Bryan Mbeumo and Noussair Mazraoui due to the African Cup of Nations. Mbeumo and Amad, who were given special dispensation by their nations to play on Monday, have been brilliant all season and Benjamin Sesko and Joshua Zirkzee do not feel like apt replacements.
The continued absence of Matthijs de Ligt and Harry Maguire, who are unlikely to be back to face Villa, is an equally big concern as it leaves the team looking to the inexperienced and error-prone Ayden Heaven until Lisandro Martinez is deemed fit enough to start games.
They visit third-placed Aston Villa, who have beaten Arsenal and Manchester City this season and have won their last nine matches in all competitions, in their next game and then on Boxing Day host Newcastle, who outplayed United at Old Trafford last season.
Their final game of 2025, at home to Wolves, should at least be a guarantee of three points. But as Monday's wonderful yet infuriating game showed, nothing is guaranteed with United these days.