Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has pointed the finger squarely at Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim following his side's surprising 1-0 home defeat to Everton, despite the visitors playing most of the match with ten men.
Red Card Fails to Spark United Dominance
The match took an unexpected turn in the first half when Everton's Idrissa Gueye received a straight red card for fighting with his own teammate, Michael Keane. This left the Toffees with just ten players for the majority of the game at Old Trafford.
Despite their numerical advantage, Manchester United struggled to break down Everton's resilient defence, with goalkeeper Jordan Pickford making several outstanding saves to keep the hosts at bay.
Dewsbury-Hall Stunner Seals Shock Victory
The decisive moment came when former Chelsea midfielder Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall, signed in the summer, scored an impressive long-range goal that ultimately secured all three points for the understrength visitors.
Speaking on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football alongside Portugal manager Roberto Martínez, Carragher delivered a scathing assessment of Amorim's tactical approach. "Ruben Amorim strikes me as the first manager I've seen who sticks to a system more than an idea of how to play," Carragher stated.
Carragher Questions Formation Obsession
The pundit specifically criticised Amorim's unwavering commitment to his preferred 3-4-3 formation, suggesting it hampered United's ability to capitalise on their extra player.
"The formation can change, but with Ruben Amorim, the formation is his baby," Carragher explained. "And not changing or altering it in situations like that - I don't understand how you can stick with something so firmly when it's basically one man up front who isn't really up front."
Carragher argued that most managers would adapt their system when facing ten men, typically removing a central defender and adding a midfielder to dominate possession.
Amorim's Stubborn Stance Continues
This isn't the first time Amorim's tactical rigidity has come under fire since his arrival at Old Trafford in November last year. The Portuguese manager inherited a squad from previous boss Erik ten Hag that wasn't well-suited to his system but showed little interest in adapting his philosophy.
After finishing 15th in last year's Premier League, Amorim had the opportunity to rebuild during preseason, yet United have continued to struggle at the start of the 2025-26 campaign.
In a remarkable statement in September, Amorim essentially invited the Manchester United hierarchy to sack him rather than change his approach, declaring: "I'm not going to change. When I want to change my philosophy, I will change. If not, you have to change the man."
Following the demoralising 3-0 defeat to Manchester City, he added: "Lose faith in your ability to turn things around? No, that's not the way. I believe in my path and I'm going to play my way until I want to change."
Significant Setback for United's Campaign
The home defeat to David Moyes' Everton represents a major setback for Amorim and his team, who had shown some improvement in results at Old Trafford as autumn progressed.
Carragher concluded that while players must share responsibility, the manager would bear the brunt of criticism. "The manager will take a lot of the blame for tonight," he said. "They'll look at the players, and we know the players should do better, but the manager will take a lot of the blame tonight."
Amorim admitted his personal concerns after the match, stating: "I'm afraid of returning to that feeling from last season, that's my biggest worry. We have to work together. The players are trying, but we have to improve."
The defeat saw Manchester United miss an opportunity to break into the top four during what has been an inconsistent campaign, leaving serious questions about Amorim's long-term future at the club.
