Paul Merson has attributed Alexis Sanchez's poor form at Manchester United to a loss of confidence and hunger.

The Chile international is a shadow of the player he was at Arsenal, scoring just two goals all season for United.

Sanchez has even been left behind by the Ole Gunnar Solskjaer revolution, with the 30-year-old now behind Marcus Rashford, Jesse Lingard and Anthony Martial in the pecking order at Old Trafford.

"I hope we see the old Sanchez, but I don't see the confidence or the hunger in his eyes anymore," Merson told Soccer Saturday.

"The first thought that used to come to mind when you mentioned Alexis Sanchez was that he worked his socks off, he put a shift in.

"For the quality he possesses as a player, he works as hard as anyone, but I don't see that anymore.

"Sanchez has lost that hunger and it's a shame. It's sad because he was good."

Asked if Sanchez was in danger of becoming United's equivalent of Mesut Ozil - a high-profile player whose performances are not justifying his wages - Charlie Nicholas added: "It pains people to watch [what is happening to] Sanchez.

"He was a street fighter, a warrior, with talent. He will have an occasional burst of games but never as consistent as what he's been in the past."