Rio Ferdinand says new Manchester United signing is being 'starved of service' after 3-0 derby loss

Rio Ferdinand said he is "worried" about Manchester United striker Benjamin Sesko and singled out the team's defensive performance as the "most concerning" aspect after United's 3-0 defeat to Manchester City on Sunday.

Speaking on his Rio Ferdinand Presents podcast, the former United defender criticised the treatment of Sesko, who arrived at Old Trafford in the summer as a big-money signing. Ferdinand said the forward has received little service and few opportunities to influence games, and urged the club to address that quickly.

"The one I'm worried about is (Benjamin) Sesko," Ferdinand said. "He ain't getting no chances man, he ain't getting no opportunities, there's nothing created for him. That's the concern. A new striker comes in the football club, gets in the team, you've got to think about creating chances for him. Getting him on the end of things. He's got to think about getting on the end of things. That's something I think has got to be looked at, and fixed quick. I don't want to think about what it could turn out to be."

Ferdinand described the derby defeat at the Etihad Stadium as "depressing", saying United allowed City's attackers too much freedom. "Defensively, I thought that was the most concerning thing," he added. "I've been quite complimentary about the defenders and the way we've defended it at times this season, but (during the match), I thought it was like a hot knife through butter. It was too easy."

The former centre-back also called out full-back Luke Shaw, saying he was "100 per cent" at his worst this season, and noted that the introduction of former captain Harry Maguire could not stem City's momentum.

United manager Ruben Amorim, backed by the club's owners following a sizeable summer spend, defended his style of play after the loss and has indicated he intends to persist with his approach. Despite that backing, United have struggled for consistency early in the season, taking until their third Premier League match to record a win and then failing to build momentum after the international break.

The result leaves United low in the table after four league games. Ferdinand said he would be happy with a sixth- or seventh-place finish this season but added that even that now looks like a "long shot". He warned that the squad's lack of creativity without captain Bruno Fernandes was evident: "Without Bruno, you're looking at it going, 'who else is going to create something — (Bryan) Mbeumo?' But there's no real guile."

United will compete only in domestic competitions this season after finishing 15th in the league last term and missing out on European qualification. The squad also suffered a shock early exit from the Carabao Cup, losing in the first round to League Two side Grimsby.

Daily Mail Sport reported that Opta simulations gave United a greater chance of relegation than of finishing in the top four next May, a statistical assessment that underlines concerns about the club's trajectory after the summer changes. Amorim faces growing pressure to translate the club's transfer spending into performances as United seek to arrest a slide that has left supporters and former players publicly concerned.