Manchester United might have the second-best defensive record in the Premier League behind Manchester City, but they certainly don’t have a settled back-four.Title-winning teams often have a consistent back-four that play almost every match, forging a great understanding with each other and the goalkeeper.For United, though, they haven’t had that luxury at all this season.The likes of Eric Bailly, Chris Smalling, Victor Lindelof, Phil Jones and Marcos Rojo have all suffered their own injury problems this season and it’s almost impossible to know which centre-back pairing Jose Mourinho prefers.On Saturday against Liverpool, Mourinho gave Bailly his first start since November and he showed why he’s often regarded as United’s best defender.But who partners him?

FERDINAND NAMES HIS IDEAL CENTRE-BACK PAIRING

United fans will probably all have different opinions but the question was put to Rio Ferdinand ahead of United’s Champions League second-leg vs Sevilla.

His answer?

“Bailly with Smalling or Rojo?"

"De Gea must never know who it's going to be!"

Rojo has been injured for the majority of the campaign but it’s rather surprising that Ferdinand would rather the Argentinean over Jones or Lindelof.

There will be plenty of United fans that agree that it’s a case of Bailly and one other as the centre-back pairing. But with Lindelof arriving for £30 million in the summer, there are many supporters that want to see him given an extended run in the first-team.

As for Jones, he enjoyed a good spell in the side before Christmas but has since fallen down the pecking order with Mourinho seemingly losing trust in him.

Given their performances against Liverpool at the weekend, it’s very likely to be Bailly and Smalling tasked with preventing Sevilla from scoring an away goal at Old Trafford.

Ferdinand will be happy.