Rio Ferdinand has highlighted a number of Manchester United weaknesses while praising Liverpool for superbly dealing with theirs in the transfer market.
The former defender believes the Reds are the "best team in the land" following their signings of Virgil van Dijk and Alisson Becker over the previous two years.
And he explained that United must copy Jurgen Klopp and Michael Edwards in going out into the market to improve their defence, before even thinking about splashing big money of Borussia Dortmund star Jadon Sancho.
“Yeah, definitely [there are question marks in front of David de Gea],” Ferdinand said on BT Sport.
“The centre-back area, first game of the season you’re looking for someone to set their stall out in defensive areas. They did anything but that.
“It was slow, it was cumbersome, and I picked out three examples for goals. I can see so many different mistakes, areas there can be improvements.
“Listen, you look at Liverpool, the best team in the land. Issues in goalkeeping areas - Alisson, big signing. Issues at centre-back? Van Dijk, bang, they deal with it.
“Manchester United have not done that. This is not an issue we’re seeing that’s just happened the other day.
“I want Jadon Sancho to come to Man United, he’s a generational talent, he’s someone who will get fans off their seats, a Man United player.
“Yes they had a fantastic goals-against record last season but there are moments in games, or before games even.
“Are you looking across the tunnel across that line thinking ‘I’m going to have to be at my absolute best to get a chance against this Manchester United team’? “I don’t think so - and that’s a problem for me.”
