ALEXIS MUST BUCK UP OR BE AXED

THE conundrum for Jose Mourinho is how to get Paul Pogba and Alexis Sanchez firing in the same team. Mourinho has to get Sanchez (below) to stay higher up the pitch and take fewer touches. He is most creative when he plays off the left and cuts inside but has a tendency to drop deep and get involved in the build-up. Sanchez is so keen to get on the ball and play his own way. It is affecting United’s ability to build attacks. Pogba, who is a doubt for today’s game, is best on the left of a midfield three but when Sanchez comes deep, he is denying space for the Frenchman to be effective. Look at City. By playing high and wide on the left, Leroy Sane not only gives them tremendous width but also leaves plenty of space for David Silva to work his magic. Sanchez has trouble sticking to his position. This is not Arsenal, where everything was set up for him to thrive. Anthony Martial and Marcus Rashford are the young pretenders who will put pressure on his place. If Sanchez does not quickly find form, Mourinho will pull him from the team. DO NOT forget that it was at Anfield in October when United’s title challenge effectively ground to a halt. Until then, Mourinho had corrected many of the inefficiencies from the season before. But by setting up so negatively against Liverpool, United lost momentum and the following week were humbled by Huddersfield. On Monday night, United found themselves 2-0 down at Crystal Palace. They were forced to go and play, the handbrake was released and we saw some of their best football of the season. Jose Mourinho only has to look at what happens when he allows his team to express themselves.