Rio Ferdinand fears that Ruben Amorim is still misusing three Manchester United players by playing them out of position in his team.
It has been another topsy-turvy start to the season for the Red Devils, who lost three of their first seven games to start the Premier League campaign.
A much-needed victory against Sunderland gave the Red Devils something to cheer about heading into the international break.
But almost one year into this tenure at Old Trafford, Amorim is still facing plenty of doubters as he looks to create a United side that matches his vision.
In the pursuit of that, Amorim has remained insistent on sticking to his 3-4-2-1 formation, with the Portuguese coach noting earlier in the campaign that not even the Pope could make him part ways with his preferred set-up.
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That dogmatic approach, however, has often led Amorim to shoehorn some of his best players into positions that don’t get the best out of their respective qualities.
And despite a flurry of summer signings to find players better suited to his style, Ferdinand believes there are still three glaring examples of players playing out of position in Amorim’s United side.
Speaking to The Times, he said: ‘Bruno [Fernandes] can play the deeper role he’s asked to play, but will he play it as well as he plays further up the pitch?
‘Why not put the most productive player in the Premier League in his best position to provide?
‘People go on about the formation but it’s also those details. Is Amad [Diallo] really a right wingback?
‘Leny Yoro, right of a back three — has he ever really done that as a 19-year-old novice?’
Ferdinand, however, is cautiously encouraged by what he is seeing from his former side, adding: ‘There isn’t enough happening in the team to make me go, ‘I really believe now’.
‘But when you look at the stats, they’re punching you in the face in terms of entries into the opponent’s box, shots, expected goals.
‘Things looks positive from that standpoint.’
United will look to build on the momentum from their win against Sunderland when they face Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
The Red Devils put on a dogged display to draw 2-2 away from home last season, but have not won at Anfield since 2016, when Wayne Rooney’s late strike nicked a 1-0 win.
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