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New Man United boss Ruben Amorim likes to set up his team in a 3-4-3 formation
Back threes have become uncommon in the Premier League over recent years
Will Ruben Amorim be Man United's saviour? LISTEN NOW: It's All Kicking Off! Available wherever you get your podcasts. Episodes every Monday and Thursday

Published: 17:31 EST, 23 November 2024 | Updated: 18:28 EST, 23 November 2024

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Haven't you heard? New Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim likes to play with a back three.

How exciting. Well, he's part of a rarer breed of elite manager as fewer and fewer top sides these days opt to start with three central defenders.

Over the first 11 weeks of the season, only 14 per cent of Premier League starting XIs were in a back three, the lowest since Antonio Conte brought it to Chelsea in 2016-17 and won the title, sparking a few years of back-three bonanza.

Incoming England boss Thomas Tuchel is partial to it too.

Many top sides move into a back three with the ball as full-backs tuck into midfield but out of possession it's rare.

It can leave space in midfield for opponents to dominate and your lumbering centre backs can get drawn wide and exposed.

GAMES STARTED WITH A BACK 3 SINCE START OF LAST SEASON

Manchester City: 13

Chelsea: 5

Tottenham: 0

Arsenal: 0

Liverpool: 0

Manchester United: 0

Before this weekend's games

Manchester United are likely to look very different than before under new boss Ruben Amorim

If Amorim can make it work at United, perhaps it'll come back in vogue...

Back threes now being rare is especially true for the 'Big Six' clubs who, bar Man City, have all steered clear — even Chelsea and Spurs who started 51 and 62 games that way in the two seasons from 2021 to 2023.