Ralf Rangnick could return to favourite formation to save Manchester United's season

Manchester United’s top-four hopes are slowly fading, following Saturday’s disappointing 2-0 defeat to relegation-threatened Everton. United lacked penetration in attack at Goodison Park, while Anthony Gordon’s opener came as the hosts cut through their defence too easily.

What’s more, United are currently undergoing something of a midfield injury crisis. Fred was the latest Red to suffer fitness woes when he was forced off with a hip problem in the first half at Everton.

Before the trip to Merseyside, Ralf Rangnick told the media that Scott McTominay would miss out, and Fred’s issue leaves Nemanja Matic as the club’s only recognised defensive midfielder available. On the bench against Everton, United had Paul Pogba, Juan Mata, Jesse Lingard, and Hannibal as midfield options, but none of the four fit the same description as McTominay or Matic.

Even Fred is regarded more as a box-to-box midfielder than someone who can hold the fort. So United’s ongoing injury woes may see Rangnick alter his tactics in the hope of turning his team's fortunes for the season's run-in.

The German manager could return to a 4-3-3 formation with one midfield anchor, rather than the 4-2-3-1 United adopted against Everton. But, if Rangnick chooses to persevere with the same formation he deployed at Everton, one of his central midfield options will have to play slightly out of position.

Perhaps then, the German could revert to the 4-2-2-2 formation that he deployed during his first five Premier League matches in charge — when United only recorded one loss. That home defeat to fellow top-four challengers Wolves forced Rangnick to revert back to the arguably more balanced 4-2-3-1.

The 4-2-2-2 requires two defensive midfielders, which prompts