Jamie Carragher rips Ten Hag favorite and Red Devils summer signing for Tottenham display

Matthijs de Ligt was heavily criticized by Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher for his positional play and overall display in Manchester United’s 3-0 defeat to Tottenham.

Man Utd were outplayed and beaten by Spurs at Old Trafford on Sunday, with Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke on the scoresheet.

The day after that humiliating defeat, former England international Carragher felt that summer signing De Ligt, who worked under manager Erik ten Hag at Ajax and now United, should have done more in the visitors’ debut – where Micky van de Ven cut through the home team’s defense in shambles with a penetrating run.

On Sky Sports’ Monday Night FootballCarragher said: “I noticed that with De Ligt and a lot of defenders… I don’t understand why they don’t fill the space and come. I see this a lot. The attacker right behind him has nothing to do with him. That’s Martinez’s job, if De Ligt passes, Martinez appears. He’s looking over his shoulder, forget it! Forget! Get it here!

“It was a brilliant race. It was incredible. But Van de Ven runs because he sees space. Listen, the full-back is caught off guard, but again I want to go to De Ligt. That sums up Manchester United in the last two of the three years. Pressing, but always late. They are blocked here, Tottenham’s front three are blocking the back four.”

Regarding a chance for Tottenham in the second half, he continued: “But where is De Ligt?! The right-back came up here, look where De Ligt is! You have to overcome! In every situation in the first half, two great opportunities and a goal, in De Ligt – a player they signed for a lot of money – he is always completely out of position. He ends up facing challenges and you are in a situation where you can receive yellow and red cards.”

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Man Utd’s defensive problems remain

Ten Hag’s side have spent around £200m (€240.2m, $267.5m) on players this summer, with almost £43m (€51.6m, $57.5m) of that amount allocated to defender De Ligt, aged 25.

But it appears the former Bayern Munich and Juventus defender will not solve United’s defensive problems alone. In fact, the Dutch international could be contributing to their defensive problems.

United are now 13th in the Premier League with seven points from six matches. However, defense is not the only area of ​​concern.

The Red Devils have scored just five goals in the league this season and just one of those has been at home – the worst return in the division.

Although Carragher has pointed out De Ligt’s flaws, Ten Hag’s side are in trouble at the moment and things could get even worse.

READ MORE: Ten Hag sacking: Man Utd boss criticized for ‘absurd’ apology as Old Trafford managerial plan becomes clear

Lt Hag under increasing pressure

TEAMtalk previously reported that the United manager, who signed a contract extension this summer until 2026, was on loan at Old Trafford.

And although he is not currently on the verge of being sacked, our sources understand that very few at the club believe he will be in charge until the end of the current campaign.

After the defeat to Tottenham, club legend Rio Ferdinand felt that goalkeeper Andre Onana was the only United player to emerge with any kind of credit, but described the performance as “gunpowder”.

Aside from that defeat and Ten Hag’s future, United have been linked with Lecce left-back Patrick Dorgu – but face competition from AC Milan, Chelsea and more for the 19-year-old.

With current left-backs Luke Shaw and Tyrell Malacia still injured, signing a new player in that part of the field could be a wise move.