Manchester United have enjoyed a dramatic upturn in form over the past few weeks, with the attacking combination of Bruno Fernandes and Christian Eriksen contributing massively.
Former Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy, however, fears that the duo of Fernandes and Eriksen is unsustainable if United are hoping to win trophies under new manager Erik Ten Hag.
Danny Murphy questions Fernandes-Eriksen combo in Manchester United midfield
Bruno Fernandes and Christian Eriksen have both played crucial roles in the recent turnaround in form from Manchester United.
Fernandes scored the winner in their away win at Southampton, while Eriksen has been influential in the passing game that new manager Erik Ten Hag has tried to implement at Old Trafford.
The pair combined to set up Marcus Rashford's first goal for United in Sunday's huge win over league leaders Arsenal.
Clinical from the Reds on Sunday 🔥
8️⃣ @B_Fernandes8 x @MarcusRashford 🔟@TeamViewer ↔️ #BringingYouCloser pic.twitter.com/TxkLh8ewEu— Manchester United (@ManUtd) September 6, 2022
Eriksen would also go on to register an assist in Sunday's game against Arsenal, and drew widespread praise for his influential performance (though Roy Keane wasn't too impressed).
Ex-Liverpool midfielder Danny Murphy was among those who questioned Manchester United's decision to sign Eriksen earlier this summer, but accepted in a TalkSport interview this week that he may have been wrong on the Danish midfielder.
What I said was that I didn't think he'd be in their first XI if Fernandes was going to play. They've both played all the games - they did indeed [play very well].
I think he's proven me wrong with his contribution from a deeper area. He's a wonderful passer of the ball, and I've never disliked Eriksen, I've never, ever said that. He's a super player technically.
Murphy went on to say, however, that he felt that the midfield combination of Fernandes and Eriksen would leave United vulnerable defensively against the biggest teams.
He praised the recent performances of defensive presence Scott McTominay, but questioned whether McTominay was a good enough defensive midfielder to compensate for the attacking game of Fernandes and Eriksen:
I just don't think in any midfield three you can have two players who aren't defensively minded or win anything. That's my belief.
You could talk about City when they've had the likes of Bernardo Silva and De Bruyne, but their work ethic and the defensive part of their game is better than the two I've just mentioned.
Eriksen is not doing anything I didn't think he could do. He's sees all the pictures, he's got two great feet, he can pass from anywhere - I am still convinced that if Eriksen and Fernandes play in the same team consistently against the top opposition, they'll struggle to win anything.
Manchester United have taken two huge wins with Eriksen and Fernandes playing in midfield, against Arsenal and Liverpool, but they are yet to face the likes of Tottenham and Manchester City, who may put more strain on the midfield than the injury-stricken Arsenal and Liverpool.
They have reinforced in midfield over the summer, with five-time Champions League winning defensive midfielder Casemiro signing from Real Madrid. The presence of Casemiro at the base of midfield could change the picture for United, and they have added depth with Fred and Donny van de Beek available off the bench.
Casemiro, Fred, and van de Beek are expected to start in Thursday's Europa League game against Real Sociedad, leaving Ten Hag with an opportunity to assess alternatives to Bruno Fernandes and Christian Eriksen.
Given how Fernandes, Eriksen, and Scott McTominay have performed in the Manchester United midfield in recent weeks, the others may struggle to fight their way back into contention.
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