Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher didn’t mince words during his analysis of Manchester United’s disappointing 2-0 defeat against Newcastle United at Old Trafford on Monday night.
The loss, which marked another setback for Ruben Amorim’s struggling side, saw Newcastle take control early on, with goals from Alexander Isak and Joelinton inside the first 20 minutes. Despite United’s underwhelming overall performance, Carragher singled out one player for particular criticism during his appearance on Sky Sports’ Monday Night Football with host Dave Jones.
Speaking about Newcastle’s second goal, Carragher zeroed in on United defender Lisandro Martinez. “When Martinez joined the Premier League, I initially thought his height would be a major issue for a centre-back in a back four,” said Carragher. “He proved me wrong to some extent by adapting well and performing solidly under Erik ten Hag. But now, under Ruben Amorim, he looks like a shadow of that player.”
Carragher highlighted how Martinez struggled against Joelinton, who out-jumped him to score Newcastle’s second goal. “Martinez has to be more aggressive in those situations. Joelinton had no trouble getting past him to head it in,” Carragher added, emphasizing his belief that the Argentine international hasn’t adapted to Amorim’s tactics.
Interestingly, Carragher also touched on his prior opinion that Martinez might thrive better in a back-three system. “I thought he’d excel with the protection of two bigger defenders alongside him, but under Amorim, even that setup isn’t working for him,” he noted.
The match also saw a surprising substitution from Amorim in the 33rd minute when he replaced forward Joshua Zirkzee with Kobbie Mainoo, drawing confusion from the Old Trafford crowd. Zirkzee’s decision to walk directly to the tunnel before returning to the bench added to the evening’s tension.
Manchester United’s defeat keeps them languishing in 14th place after 19 matches, with just a seven-point cushion above the relegation zone. Newcastle, meanwhile, continues to showcase their strength under Eddie Howe, climbing the league table with their latest victory.
