Manchester United forward Alexis Sanchez was 'absent' against Chelsea and struggling to match Arsenal form - Graeme Souness

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Tom Doyle26 February 2018

Alexis Sanchez was "absent" against Chelsea and is failing to have the same kind of influence at Manchester United that he exerted at Arsenal, according to Graeme Souness.

Sanchez joined United in January in a swap deal which saw Henrikh Mkhitaryan head to Arsenal, though the Chile international is yet to set Old Trafford alight despite dislodging the likes of Jesse Lingard in Jose Mourinho's preferred starting XI.

The 29-year-old has been deployed on the left wing, right wing and behind the striker as Mourinho looks to find a formation which gives balance to both his midfield and attack, with Sanchez placed wide on the right for Sunday's 2-1 Premier League win against Chelsea.

Sanchez had a relatively quiet game against the champions, though played a key role in United's equaliser as he drifted inside to link up with Anthony Martial, who teed up Romelu Lukaku to level the scores at 1-1 in the first half.

Getty Images

Lukaku then turned provider for substitute Lingard to win the game and send United back into second place in the table, but former Liverpool defender Souness was unimpressed by Sanchez's contribution against Chelsea - and to the Red Devils so far.

"His career hasn't got going at United yet," Souness told Sky Sports following the game.

"Every time I watch him, I think 'where are you' - when he was at Arsenal he was being the difference.

"Today he was absent, I can't think of a single thing he did in the game."

United's victory puts them 11 points behind Manchester City, though Pep Guardiola's table toppers have a game in hand.

While United's title hopes may effectively be over, the Old Trafford win saw them put six points between themselves and fifth-placed Chelsea in the race for Champions League qualification.

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