Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher disagree over Man Utd’s performance in Liverpool draw

Man Utd: Will Solskjaer be happy with Anfield point?

Manchester United are not a “champion team” because they failed to assert themselves in their 0-0 draw in the Premier League against Liverpool on Sunday. That’s according to Gary Neville, who believes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side will look back on the goalless draw at Anfield as a missed opportunity.

United extended their unbeaten Premier League away record to 16 matches on Sunday, but failed to find a way past Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson.

The Brazilian keeper kept out attempts from Bruno Fernandes and Paul Pogba as the away side had the better of the chances on Merseyside.

Liverpool attempted 17 shots to United’s eight and had 66% possession, but saw their winless run stretched to four games in the Premier League.

The result saw United maintain their lead at the top of the table, with 37 points from 18 games, but Neville thought there was something missing from the performance.

“I thought Liverpool would come out like animals, reassert themselves as a danger, a little bit like Manchester City did at United a week or two ago,” the former United defender said on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football.

“That would have played on United’s minds. Jamie [Carragher] and Graeme [Souness] would’ve been expecting a ferocious Liverpool performance – nine days off – and there was a little bit of worry from United fans, and excitement but it was the feeling of Liverpool could reassert themselves.

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“The best analogy I can give is almost like that United prepared for the toughest hole on the course, the one you take a par on all day, they played it and as they played it, they’ve walked on to the next tee, they’ve looked back and thought, ‘If I’d gone for that second shot and been a bit bolder on the green, I may have got a birdie and maybe I should have done it’, but that’s only after the hole has finished.

“There’s a point in the game yesterday where I was saying if this wasn’t at Anfield, Man United would’ve been a lot more positive, but I genuinely believe this team is not ready, or right yet, to be able to adapt its mind from seven or eight weeks ago when their manager was reportedly on the brink of being sacked, to seven weeks later thinking they’re title winners, we’re coming to Anfield – our toughest away game – and they’re a bit weaker and let’s go for it.

“I don’t think they’re ready because the champions teams are able to step up. This team isn’t a champion team. I don’t think any pundit or fan will think Man United are going to win the league this year.

“They’ve got a chance, but I don’t think they’ll do it. When they’re ready, I think they’ll do it. I understand where that team was yesterday and where Ole was.”

Former Liverpool defender Carragher disagreed with Neville’s characterisation of the game and United’s performance, pointing out the number of established players in Solskjaer’s squad.

“I don’t agree with any of that. None of it,” Carragher replied.

“Manchester United are one of the biggest clubs in the world and he’s a player who’s won everything at that club, you think of the mentality at United and you talk about the mentality of this team and that they’re not a champion team.

“You don’t have to be a champion team to smell something in the game. We all felt Liverpool would come flying out the blocks. They did. They completely dominated Manchester United in the first half an hour, and then United started having a few counter-attacks.

“Manchester United may have even felt that Liverpool were running out of ideas when on the edge of the box, they weren’t creating big chances in the first-half.

“But when you’re talking about them not being a champion team, you go into that game and tactically you’ve set up; you maybe expect Matic to play, you maybe expect Henderson in midfield, two midfielders at the back, Shaqiri in midfield – you’ve weathered that first half an hour.

“Look at Pogba, your one-to-watch, a World Cup winner, Fernandes – who’s won what? Four player of the month awards. What I couldn’t believe in the second-half, there was no stage in that game where Manchester United showed any authority.

“They should have won that game, they had the best chances and you do that and it’s an Ole masterclass.”

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