Manchester United

Manchester United

Premier League • England

Carragher rips apart ‘joke’ defence Solskjaer constructed; Souness gives surprise Man Utd praise

Man Utd defender Harry Maguire 2021

Jamie Carragher verbally ripped apart the defence Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has constructed, while Graeme Souness praised one element of Manchester United on a dismal day for the club.

Manchester United were handed a heavy 5-0 defeat in what was Liverpool’s biggest ever victory against their bitter rivals at Old Trafford. United’s defence were routinely picked apart, with Mohamed Salah in particular making hay with a memorable hat-trick.

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer admitted it was his “darkest day” as United boss. That came despite the Norwegian insisting the club are “close” to achieving their aims.

And in the post-match fallout, the defence Solskjaer has constructed came in for stinging criticism from Carragher with Harry Maguire in particular enduring a nightmare showing.

“We have seen a team versus individuals and that is the huge difference,” Carragher said on Sky Sports.

“This Liverpool team is a team and a lot of people saw the team-sheet and were fancying Man Utd. What is happening on the training pitch? The organisation is just not there.

“Liverpool fans, you are watching the best of times, world class players, stars and a special manager, but Manchester United are an absolute mess.

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“I don’t think Liverpool were at their absolute best, whenever they made passes – it’s a joke of a back four the way it is playing, Keystone Cops type of defending. Man Utd and Liverpool are the biggest rivals maybe in world football, you are not going to get that opportunity too often.

“It is OK saying you are going to press but are they working on it? Is there a trigger? Why would you press Virgil van Dijk, the best passer…?”


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Souness hails Man Utd fans

Former Liverpool midfielder Graeme Souness also took aim at United’s half-hearted press. However, he did hail the club’s fans with the vast majority sticking it out until the final whistle.

Souness said: “It’s a half attempt to press. It is like if you are a second out and don’t do it collectively you get taken apart, and that’s exactly what happened.

“Liverpool have been sensational. Salah is alive and kicking, switched on completely.

“Liverpool were clinical, fabulous at times, for Liverpool supporters it will be one of those ‘I was there that day’. United really didn’t have a gameplan, fair play to the supporters because a vast majority stayed until the end.

“Man United have lots of problems they have to solve until they become anything like a proper team.”

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