3 ways to solve the Alexis Sanchez problem at Manchester United

The signing of Alexis Sanchez was touted as a game changer for Manchester United's season. But so far the Chilean has struggled to replicate his Arsenal form and Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho faces a big selection dilemma.

If Manchester United manage to beat Liverpool at Old Trafford on Saturday, United will go five points clear of their old enemies in second place with eight games left to play. A loss against them will allow Jurgen Klopp's side leap-frog United into second place.

The dramatic win against Crystal Palace raised many questions about the starting eleven - and one of the biggest was how to solve the problem of Alexis Sanchez. Sanchez was one of a number of players who had a poor game against Roy Hodgson's side and there is an ongoing debate about his ideal positioning.

Jose Mourinho has three options which could solve the problem and restore Manchester United's attacking flair.

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#1 Drop Alexis Sanchez

It is clear after eight games into his Manchester United career that Alexis Sanchez hasn't found his form yet. It is not yet clear where Alexis Sanchez can best fit into Jose Mourinho's side. Seven times he has started on the left and once on the right and he is yet to set Old Trafford alight with the attacking flair he possesses.

In the meantime, his arrival at Manchester United has forced other players out of the team or out of position. Players like Anthony Martial, Jesse Lingard, Juan Mata and Marcus Rashford who had been playing regularly and in fine form have been impacted negatively by his arrival.

Manchester United pulled a dramatic win at Selhurst Park against Crystal Palace, Alexis Sanchez's performance highlighted some major problems.

Sanchez lost the ball on numerous occasion against Crystal Palace

United seem to have lost the attacking flair and impetus they showed earlier this season as they attacked as a unit and scored four times on numerous occasions.

While the Chilean isn't at the root of all United's attacking problems, the reality is it hasn't clicked since he made the move from the Arsenal in January. There is an argument the problem stems from a lack of creativity in midfield, Manchester United are overly-reliant on Paul Pogba, something that Jose Mourinho needs to address in the summer transfer window. The Manchester United forwards also have to share in the responsibility, their attacking prowess has gone bland in recent games.

This is an issue Mourinho needs to solve quickly and starting Alexis Sanchez on the bench and reinstating Martial on the left wing could be the best way of doing it.

#2 Maintaining the width on the wings

Sanchez also inhibits Pogba's performance by drifting into midfield

Alexis Sanchez lost possession 34 times against Palace and had just three touches of the ball in the opposition box, as he grew frustrated he dropped deeper. This caused more problems for United going forward.

His stats against Palace were particularly damning and perhaps they show why Mourinho needs to change his tactical approach to fit Sanchez in the Manchester United side.

Leroy Sane who has been displaying scintillating form this season at Manchester City might serve as the perfect example. He has often been terrifying this season, leaving defenders for dead with his pace and nimble feet. The width and penetration he brings to City from the left has been very important.

Alexis Sanchez drifts inside too much which also inhibits Paul Pogba from dominating the midfield. Against Crystal Palace, Jose Mourinho had to bring Marcus Rashford in to exploit the space on the left side. This improved Manchester United's attacking impetus.

The Manchester United manager might need to tweak his tactical system a bit and instruct Alexis Sanchez to maintain the width in order to fit him better into this United side.

#3 Deploying Sanchez as the central striker

Deploying Sanchez as the central striker in rotation with Lukaku could be an option for Mourinho

Jose Mourinho has tried Alexis Sanchez on the left, the right and as a No.10 behind Lukaku without any real success. But, with his United side now seemingly shifting to a three-man midfield system with two wide forwards, the attacking midfielder role will become redundant.

Playing Sanchez on the left pushes Anthony Martial out of the team and it hasn't really worked for him on the right or behind the center-forward.

The only option Mourinho has not tried is playing him up front where he excelled for Arsenal. Manchester United legend Gary Neville also advised Jose Mourinho to deploy Sanchez as the central striker in rotation with Lukaku. "He has tried him everywhere else and it hasn't really worked, what I think he has to do is to get him out of the center of midfield," said Gary Neville.

It would be harsh though, putting Romelu Lukaku out of the team, given the Belgian international's recent performance against Chelsea and Crystal Palace.

But this could be the best way to get Sanchez firing on all cylinders.