Manchester United lack “balance” in their side and “don’t look like they’re going to score goals”, says Paul Scholes.
The Red Devils opened the 2020-21 campaign with alarming leaks once again springing in their defensive unit.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has successfully sought to address those faults, with United conceding just four goals through their last five Premier League games.
They shut arch-rivals Manchester City out in their latest fixture, as a derby date at Old Trafford ended in a drab goalless draw, but firepower is now looking in short supply.
Solskjaer’s side created little when playing host to their neighbours on Saturday, with Scholes questioning a system that includes two holding midfield players.
For him, that approach reins in United’s attacking instincts, with it difficult for the likes of Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood to make an impact when they lack the required support and service.
Scholes told Premier League Productions: “You go right back to that Tottenham game where they had a massive shock conceding six goals, they had to change the way they were playing.
“They had to play the two holding midfielders to protect the centre-halves because they were giving chances away all the time.
“I thought [Raheem] Sterling was poor, I thought [Aaron] Wan-Bissaka did well against him.
“Defensively, Wan-Bissaka throws himself into challenges, [Victor] Lindelof was as good as he probably has been and [Harry] Maguire was good.
“They had that protection, but it takes away from the attacking side then because you can’t really think of any chances United created.
“It’s compromising everything, they cannot get the balance right in the team. If they play one holding midfielder they look like they’re going to score goals but look like they’ll concede as well.”
Scholes added: “They look much more solid with the two holding midfield players but then they don’t look like they’re going to score goals.”
United’s inconsistency this season has them sat eighth in the English top-flight table.
They are, however, only five points off the leaders and boast a game in hand on all of those above them after making a delayed start to their 2020-21 campaign.
A meeting with rock-bottom Sheffield United is next up for the Red Devils, with Solskjaer’s side set to put their impressive away record on the line at Bramall Lane on Thursday.