Manchester United have a busy run of fixtures to come after Thursday night's 4-3 defeat to Tottenham Hotspur in the Carabao Cup.

United fell behind after a quarter of an hour when Dominic Solanke buried a close-range effort after Altay Bayindir parried Pedro Porro's deflected shot. After losing Victor Lindelof on the stroke of half-time, things got worse just a minute into the second half.

A poor clearance from Lisandro Martinez was capitalised on by Dejan Kulusevski who fired in. When Solanke added his second of the game shortly afterwards, it felt like the match was beyond United but a Fraser Forster mistake gave a glimmer of hope as Joshua Zirkzee tapped home.

That glimmer became a shining light when with 20 minutes to go, Forster cleared the ball off a sliding Amad to gift United another goal. However, that was nearly extinguished late on as Son Heung-min scored directly from a corner despite complaints from Bayindir.

And yet, there was to be another late twist as Jonny Evans headed home from a corner but it was too little, too late. After tonight's defeat, MEN Sport has taken a closer look at what is to come next for United over the festive period.

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United's next five fixtures

December 22 vs AFC Bournemouth (H) at 2pm - Premier League

December 26 vs Wolves (A) at 5.30pm - Premier League

December 30 vs Newcastle (H) at 8pm - Premier League

January 5 vs Liverpool (A) at 4.30pm - Premier League

January 12 vs Arsenal (A) at 3pm - FA Cup

What MEN Sport says: As a run of five fixtures goes, United may struggle to have a difficult period than this between now and the end of the season. The beginning of January is where the eyes will naturally head to and with good reason too. Both Liverpool and Arsenal will be huge tests to see if this United team have finally turned a corner, albeit Thursday was evidence that they had not. The next three games all pose their own challenges too. Bournemouth and Newcastle have both had fine seasons so far and at home, United will be expected to beat them. The trip to Wolves is arguably the easiest on paper but a new dynamic has been added to that clash now they have a new manager in position.

Arsenal's next five fixtures

December 21 vs Crystal Palace (A) at 5.30pm - Premier League

December 27 vs Ipswich Town (H) at 8.15pm - Premier League

January 1 vs Brentford (A) at 5.30pm - Premier League

January 4 vs Brighton (A) at 5.30pm - Premier League

January 12 vs Manchester United (H) at 3pm - FA Cup

Manchester City's next five fixtures

December 21 vs Aston Villa (A) at 12.30pm - Premier League

December 26 vs Everton (H) at 12.30pm - Premier League

December 29 vs Leicester City (A) at 2.30pm - Premier League

January 4 vs West Ham (H) at 3pm - Premier League

January 11 vs Salford City (H) at 5.45pm - FA Cup

Aston Villa's next five fixtures

December 21 vs Manchester City (H) at 12.30pm - Premier League

December 26 vs Newcastle (A) at 3pm - Premier League

December 30 vs Brighton (H) at 7.45pm - Premier League

January 4 vs Leicester City (H) at 3pm - Premier League

January 10 vs West Ham (H) at 8pm - FA Cup

Tottenham Hotspur's next five fixtures

December 22 vs Liverpool (H) at 4.30pm - Premier League

December 26 vs Nottingham Forest (A) at 3pm - Premier League

December 29 vs Wolves (H) at 3pm - Premier League

January 4 vs Newcastle (H) at 12.30pm - Premier League

January 12 vs Tamworth (A) at 12.30pm - FA Cup

Newcastle United's next five fixtures

December 21 vs Ipswich Town (A) at 3pm - Premier League

December 26 vs Aston Villa (H) at 3pm - Premier League

December 30 vs Manchester United (A) at 8pm - Premier League

January 4 vs Tottenham (A) at 12.30pm - Premier League

January 12 vs Bromley (H) at 3pm - FA Cup