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.

Rasmus Hojlund is facing one of the toughest assignments in the Premier League due to Manchester United’s current struggles, says Michael Owen.

United’s Boxing Day clash against Wolves ended in a disheartening 2-0 defeat, marking their third loss in just seven days. The game turned in Wolves’ favor early in the second half when Bruno Fernandes received a second yellow card for a reckless tackle on Nelson Semedo. With United reduced to 10 men, their performance deteriorated further.

Wolves capitalized on the situation, taking the lead when Matheus Cunha’s inswinging corner slipped past Andre Onana and into the net. Hwang Hee-chan later secured the victory with a counter-attacking goal in stoppage time. Despite the tactical tweaks made by Ruben Amorim, United struggled to create meaningful opportunities and ended the match with just 0.35 xG.

Hojlund, chosen to lead the attack over Joshua Zirkzee, found himself isolated and ineffective. Michael Owen, speaking on Premier League Productions, highlighted the difficulties faced by the young striker. “They’re absolutely dreadful going forward,” Owen remarked. “I can’t recall a single real chance they created against Wolves. Hojlund… I genuinely feel sorry for the lad.”

He elaborated on the striker’s limited involvement: “In the first half, he received just six passes, and four of those came from defenders—long, hopeful balls. Only two passes were from players who could genuinely help him create something. How is he supposed to make an impact with that?”

Owen’s comments reflected the challenges of playing as United’s lead striker. “I can’t even evaluate his ability properly. After watching him for a season, I’m still unsure if he’s a good or bad player. That’s a damning indictment of the situation. Right now, playing as a centre-forward for Manchester United might be the toughest job in the Premier League.”

He added, “This position was once the dream for every striker in the world, a chance to score goals aplenty. Now, it’s almost a cursed role. I never thought I’d be saying that.”

United’s Broader Struggles

Amorim’s tenure at Manchester United has been fraught with challenges. The team currently sits 14th in the Premier League, closer to the relegation zone than the coveted top-four spots. Owen noted that while United’s defense isn’t their weakest link, their overly cautious approach hinders their overall performance.

“They’re not terrible defensively, but their mindset is too conservative,” Owen explained. “They’re often overly focused on marking, even when it’s unnecessary. Against Wolves, I saw three United players marking a single opponent at the back. That’s not how top teams operate.”

Comparing United’s approach to Liverpool’s attacking style, Owen said, “Liverpool go man-to-man at the back and push any spare players into attacking positions. That’s the kind of mentality Amorim is likely trying to instill, but it’s far from being realized.”

Owen concluded by emphasizing the need for a functioning system. “Even if United managed to stop conceding goals, I wouldn’t be optimistic because the team’s overall structure and performance are severely lacking.”

The pressure remains on Amorim to turn things around as United’s turbulent season continues.

Ruben Amorim didn’t conceal his disappointment as Manchester United suffered their third loss in seven days, falling 2-0 to a struggling Wolves side on Boxing Day.

The United manager openly criticized Bruno Fernandes following the midfielder’s red card, which played a pivotal role in the defeat at Molineux. The match was closely contested in the first half, but the turning point came when Fernandes received his second yellow card for a challenge on Nelson Semedo, leaving United with 10 men.

Wolves capitalized on the numerical advantage, breaking the deadlock through Matheus Cunha. His inswinging corner baffled Andre Onana and found its way into the far corner of the net. Amorim’s tactical changes to chase an equalizer fell short, and Wolves sealed the victory in the 98th minute when Hwang Hee-chan finished off a counter-attack. The result lifted Wolves out of the relegation zone and added further misery to United’s struggles.

Bruno Fernandes has now been sent off three times in 27 appearances this season, a worrying trend that has cost United dearly. Amorim didn’t hold back in his post-match assessment, emphasizing how the red card altered the game’s dynamics.

“When you lose, it’s always a setback,” Amorim told Prime Video. “Playing with 10 men made it incredibly tough. The first goal reminded me of the one we conceded against Tottenham. Even with a man down, we tried to push for something, but then Wolves scored their second on the break. We gave it our all, but it wasn’t enough. Now, we must move forward.”

Addressing Fernandes’ dismissal, Amorim added, “He’s trying to challenge for the ball, but he can’t afford to make such mistakes. Some players aren’t even focusing on the ball, but I don’t want to dwell on that. The positive takeaway is that we were close to scoring even with 10 men. But ultimately, we lost, and that’s what matters.”

Amorim acknowledged the difficulty of competing in the Premier League, especially with a depleted side. “Winning in this league is hard enough with 11 players,” he said. “With 10, it becomes an uphill battle. We need to address this issue.”

A Challenging Start for Amorim

Since replacing Erik ten Hag, Amorim has endured a challenging start, struggling to implement his ideas effectively. “We need to improve our connections on the pitch,” he admitted. “There are promising moments, but we lack aggression. We’re not training enough due to the congested schedule. Instead, we’re just playing and searching for ways to win games. We can’t control matches like the top teams.”

Amorim reflected on the tactical aspect of the game, saying, “At times, we controlled the flow without dominating. Set-pieces were an area we managed well, but the red card made everything harder for us.”

Rashford’s Ongoing Absence

Amorim’s decision to exclude Marcus Rashford for a fourth consecutive game also drew attention. When asked about the forward’s absence, he remained resolute. “It’s the same reason as before,” Amorim explained. “We need consistency and professionalism, regardless of whether we’re winning or losing. As the manager, I must stay strong and stick to my principles until the end.”

Despite the setbacks, Amorim’s focus remains on rebuilding United’s form and instilling a winning mentality in the squad. However, with mounting pressure and a packed fixture list, the path ahead looks far from easy.