Danny Murphy believes that two Manchester United players must still strive to ‘do more’ within Ruben Amorim’s system.
After a less-than-impressive start to the season, United appear to have turned a corner under Amorim with three Premier League victories in as many games.
A comfortable win over Sunderland was followed up by a superb triumph at Anfield before the Red Devils beat Brighton 4-2 last weekend.
Now up to sixth in the table, United are looking to make it four consecutive league wins for the first time since February 2024 as they travel to Nottingham Forest this weekend.
‘I do think there has been some progression in terms of the way they set up,’ Murphy told talkSPORT when asked about United’s recent run of form.
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‘The system is the same, but they have done it a bit differently this season. They’ve been harder to beat, they’ve made more chances because they have better front players and they look a bit more organised.
‘His problem has been, in certain games, I think is playing the playing personnel in the wrong roles in that system which is a bit different.
‘But if they were to go and win, I’d say they’d have a great bit of momentum, good run, feel-good factor, and the pressure drops.
‘Then they have a realistic chance of top six, top seven, maybe even top four if they have an amazing run, but I don’t think so because they are heavily reliant on a couple of the front boys.’
Key to United’s improved performances have been the summer signings of Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo, while Senne Lammens has also been a notable upgrade in between the sticks after arriving on deadline day.
But Murphy believes United still have plenty of room to improve, and, in particular, said they need to see a greater attacking output from their wing-backs.
Amad Diallo, Patrick Dorgu and Diogo Dalot have started the lion’s share of United’s league games in the two wing-back positions, but the trio have no goals and just three assists between them so far this campaign.
‘I still think they could get a bit more from their wing-backs,’ Murphy noted.
‘When I think of teams who have played that system and been really successful, wing-backs have done really well.
‘When Chelsea won the league playing that 3-4-3, they had Alonso and Moses both chipping in with goals and assists regularly.
‘I like Dalot, he’s a talent, but is he really a wing-back? He’s a right-footer playing at left wing-back.
Asked how they could do more, Murphy said: ‘Goals and assists. If you’re playing wing-back, you are getting in great areas, you really are. I’m not talking double figures but they need to chip in [with goals and assists].’
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