On the day Sergio Aguero rediscovered his shooting boots for Manchester's other lot, United's main man Zlatan Ibrahimovic extended the worst scoring run of his career and ended up looking every one of his 35 years.
The legend of Ibrahimovic was signed to great fanfare to win matches like this. Instead, he and United registered 37 shots on goal but failed to capitalise against a Burnley team who in fairness defended brilliantly.
When Jose Mourinho and his players needed that piece of magic to beat the inspired Tom Heaton in goal, the kind Zlatan dined out on in places like Barcelona, Paris and Milan, it was missing.
United will fervently hope the decline is only temporary as they now stand eight points adrift of co-leaders Manchester City, Liverpool and Arsenal.
Ibrahimovic's best moment was a trademark overhead kick that was brilliantly saved by Heaton, its power injuring the goalkeeper.
Two other chances inside the box came to nothing. In the final minute, Paul Pogba squeezed a cross to the super Swede. The 13-time league champion fluffed his lines, missed the target and held his head in shame.
For someone of his talent and ego, it was a sad moment. In the end it was a deserved point for a resilient Burnley side thanks to a goalless draw miles away from home.
Arsenal upstaged lowly placed Sunderland 4-1 at the Stadium of light where they had been pinned back by a Jermaine Defoe spot kick with twenty minutes to go.
Super sub Olivier Giroud marked his return to the side from a nagging toe injury with two quick goals in just two touches.
Alexis Sanchez rounded off the woeful defence to nick in the fouth goal of the afternoon, his second of the game to make it half a century goals in 106 appearances for Arsenal since his arrival from Barcelona in 2014.
Meanwhile Manchester City bounced back to winning ways with a four nil win over West Brom, with Sergio Aguero rediscovering his scoring boots with a brace with Ilkay Gundogan completing the rout with a brace.
Tottenham settled for a one all draw with Leicester.