Paul Scholes: Scoring goals a ‘real problem’ for Manchester United as winless streak continues at West Ham

TNT Sports pundit Paul Scholes said Manchester United have "problems" after they failed to score for a fourth successive game for the first time since 1992 after a 2-0 defeat to West Ham United on Saturday.

United also succumbed to a 13th defeat in all competitions this season - the most the club has suffered before Christmas since 1930.

Erik ten Hag’s side have been well below par this campaign and have slipped to eighth in the Premier League table after an eighth league defeat in east London.

Former Red Devils midfielder Scholes questioned United’s attacking play and feels the club have a “big issue” on their hands.

“They were the better team [in the first half] without really thinking they were going to score a goal,” Scholes told TNT Sports after another disappointing defeat.

“They had a couple of half chances, don’t get me wrong. [Alejandro] Garnacho probably should have done better with at least one of them.

“I always felt against West Ham, they’re that type of team that make you feel uncomfortable at times, and United were very comfortable and all of a sudden there’s a quick spark, something happens and this crowd get going, before you know it you’re two goals down.

“United have got problems. Goalscoring is a big issue, that’s four games without a goal and without creating, really. Second half I can’t think of a save the [West Ham] goalkeeper had to make.”

Scott McTominay is the club’s leading goalscorer this season with six goals from central midfield.

Scholes said that United’s current attackers must “step up” and become more of a threat.

“You usually go through seasons where one or two of your forwards are maybe struggling with a bit of confidence and they can’t score goals, but it’s every single one of them,” he added. “There are no goals coming from anywhere.

“You talk about McTominay, six goals is your leading goalscorer, a midfield player. The forward players somehow have got to step up and find a bit of confidence and bring some threat to the team, there’s no threat to the team.

“Goalscoring is a real problem, they’ve got to sort that somehow.”

United spent over £160 million to sign Antony from Ajax in the summer of 2022, and Rasmus Hojlund in the latest transfer window.

Neither player has managed to register a goal or an assist so far this season after 18 games played, while Marcus Rashford has only managed two strikes.

“It’s disappointing, it sums it up,” Scholes says, reflecting on the United front line’s current form. “You’ve spent a lot of money on players that you’re expecting more from and it’s not happening.

“You’ve got Marcus Rashford last year was brilliant, again he can’t find the form, he can’t find the net.

“The easiest thing to coach in football is defending and finding your shape. The hardest thing to do as I coach, I think, is to get your team to score goals.

“To teach them how to score goals. You can’t get inside your head, you can’t pass the ball for them, you can’t make decisions at vital times.

“That has to come from them. In the past I think that quality has been there, it’s just at this moment in time it’s seriously lacking.”

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