Analysis: United's Centre-back Pairings

Five centre-back options have produced nine different combinations at the heart of the defence for Manchester United this season.

Of course, some statistics can be misleading but we have broken down the appearances of the pairings in all competitions during Jose Mourinho's reign.

The most frequently used selection is Eric Bailly and Chris Smalling, with the duo playing together 14 times and conceding, on average, a goal a game. There was a tremendous run of four successive shut-outs when the pair performed together last month before the victory over Southampton in the EFL Cup final. Perhaps this is proof an understanding has been developing between two powerful and imposing defenders.

Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo have filled the centre-back slots on 13 occasions, only one less than the Bailly-Smalling pairing, and the Reds are unbeaten over that spell. Only nine goals have been shipped and, again, there have been signs of a fruitful partnership.

Those two selections (Bailly-Smalling and Jones-Rojo) have clearly been preferred the most by Mourinho but it is easy to forget the opening five line-ups had Bailly and Daley Blind in the middle. The Reds won the first four of those fixtures but the derby defeat to Manchester City was the last time the duo have been in tandem, though Blind has appeared more often at left-back recently.

Blind has also operated in the centre alongside fellow left-footer Rojo on three occasions, with mixed fortunes (one win, one draw and a defeat), while he has played once each as partner to Smalling and Jones, keeping a clean sheet with the former Blackburn Rovers man in a 4-0 Europa League romp over Feyenoord.

The other pairing used that is yet to concede a goal, albeit again from only one outing, is Bailly and Rojo, with their game also coming in Europe, during the 2-0 victory away to Zorya Luhansk.

Smalling has been pretty reliable when fielded with Jones, Rojo and Blind. The all-English combination with Jones has been used three times, with a win, draw and defeat accrued, but the partnership with Rojo has been successful, with all three Emirates FA Cup matches won and the only goal conceded to Blackburn's Danny Graham at Ewood Park.

The one partnership that has yet to be tried is Bailly alongside Jones, so it will be interesting to see if Mourinho does go for that at some point this season.

The conclusion is all of the defensive options are formidable - none of them have conceded more goals than games played - but Bailly-Smalling and Jones-Rojo are the most popular with the boss. There remains potential in all of the permutations, with Blind clearly capable of providing excellent cover in probably his secondary position after left-back.

UNITED'S CENTRAL DEFENCE PARTNERSHIPS 2016/17*

Bailly & Blind
P5 W4 D0 L1 Goals conceded: 5

Bailly & Smalling
P14 W9 D2 L3 Goals conceded: 14

Smalling & Blind
P1 W1 D0 L0 Goals conceded: 1

Blind & Rojo
P3 W1 D1 L1 Goals conceded: 2

Jones & Rojo
P13 W7 D6 L0 Goals conceded: 9

Jones & Blind
P1 W1 D0 L0 Goals conceded: 0

Bailly & Rojo
P1 W1 D0 L0 Goals conceded: 0

Smalling & Rojo
P3 W3 D0 L0 Goals conceded: 1

Smalling & Jones
P3 W1 D1 L1 Goals conceded: 3

*Statistics correct at 8 March 2017