JAMIE CARRAGHER slammed Christian Eriksen after Manchester United’s humiliating defeat to Crystal Palace.
United endured an embarrassing 4-0 defeat to Palace at Selhurst Park on Monday and it all started with Michael Olise’s opener after just 12 minutes.
It all started with Daniel Munoz’s free-throw that found Olise who then put together a sensational run as he dribbled past Casemiro like he wasn’t even there before beating Andre Onana with a clinical shot.
Carragher was left baffled by the Red Devils’ defending and manager Erik ten Hag’s tactics as five different players were wrongly positioned high up on the pitch without any regard of their own half.
The Liverpool legend singled out Eriksen who failed to guard the back four by leaving Olise completely unmarked in the build-up.
The former England international insists if the playmaker was deeper then the Eagles would have never opened the scoring so early in the match.
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The Sky Sports pundit also criticised Kobbie Mainoo and Aaron Wan-Bissaka’s positioning before calling Casemiro a “joke” for the way he left his line and was easily beaten by Olise.
Carragher said: “When I say some things are wrong, that is wrong.
“And even though I’ve never managed or coached a team in my life, I would argue night and day with Erik ten Hag that is wrong [Eriksen’s position].
“Because there is no way in the world, that ball will ever go there [to Palace’s defence].
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“So Eriksen’s got to come in here [deeper] to protect the defenders and if the ball does go there [to Palace’s defence], by the time the ball’s thrown he can get there.
“That is wrong, now Mainoo goes in front [and] of course what is Wan-Bissaka doing? Doing nothing there.
“He could easily go in there and Mainoo can go in there but again, leadership, organisation. Again no one taking responsibility.
“And then Eriksen just gets thrown to the floor, Casemiro is just a joke, hasn’t he tonight? I mean, how does he run that far without anybody getting there?”
Carragher was especially critical of Casemiro, who was playing out of position at centre-back amid United’s injury crisis that saw them losing Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez and Raphael Varane.
The analyst insisted that the defensive midfielder can’t continue at top-level football and should seriously consider moving to Saudi Arabia or the MLS this summer.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
