Manchester United players can get the approach they want with Lisandro Martinez tweak vs Liverpool

As Manchester United streamline their scouting department, they could do worse than hiring Jamie Carragher.

"The other problem [Erik ten Hag's] got is the signing of Lisandro Martinez," he said on Monday Night Football. "Now, we should never judge managers or players too early, but I'm convinced this can't work because the size of him playing in a back four.

"Maybe he could go left-back, maybe he could play in a back three, but in a back four, he cannot play there in the Premier League."

Also read: Exclusive: Ten Hag considering dropping Maguire vs Liverpool

On the three occasions this correspondent has seen Martinez live, a colleague sat next to or behind me on their first viewing of the Argentine has remarked how "tiny" he is. Brentford striker Ivan Toney is not even 6ft but grew and Martinez shrank.

Newly-signed United centre-backs almost always struggle. Eric Bailly was an exception and Harry Maguire also started impressively, receiving the man of the match award on his debut against Chelsea.

Before Bailly, Gary Pallister, Jaap Stam, Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic all endured chastening starts to their United careers. Pallister's fifth appearance was the infamous 5-1 at Maine Road, Stam suffered in the Wembley sun against Nicolas Anelka, Ferdinand was brittle and Vidic was part of the backline which conceded a David Bentley hat-trick at Blackburn.

More recently, Victor Lindelof left Huddersfield's John Smith's Stadium with two hoods pulled over his head, like a criminal leaving court.

Martinez has had the misfortune of being involved in a drubbing that gave supporters of a certain vintage flashbacks of the 5-0 surrender at Crystal Palace in 1972. United did not get relegated until the next season.

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