Gary Neville expressed serious concerns that Manchester United’s tendency to allow too many goals is unlikely to disappear, especially after the team surrendered two goals for the third consecutive match, this time at Everton. The former defender highlighted the defensive frailties that have become a recurring theme for the club, suggesting that even with the best possible back line on the pitch, the problem remains unresolved.
Former United midfielder Michael Carrick tried to put a positive spin on the early part of the season, describing it as "not that bad" despite the fact that Everton’s dramatic late equaliser forced the match to finish 2‑2 and left United with just four points after three games. Carrick’s optimism, however, did little to soothe Neville’s worries about the six goals the team has already conceded. Neville questioned how Carring could possibly correct the issue with the current squad, noting that the defensive unit has shown little improvement over recent weeks.
Neville pointed out the added pressure that the upcoming fixtures will bring, particularly the clash with Manchester City next week and a European tie in the middle of the week. "Michael Carrick is trying to build trust with his players and the supporters that he can repeat the successes of last season," Neville said, but he remained skeptical. "That game should have been won today. Everton weren’t threatening in the first half; they let themselves back into it.
Their ability to score is a liability that isn’t vanishing. Conceding goals will continue to haunt them and chase them down the road." He also criticized the managerial decisions regarding the back line.
"I’m not sure how Carrick will handle it when he already has his best four defenders on the field. Why did Shaw and Dalot come off with five minutes left? Ruben Amorin and Erik ten Hag also altered the back four during the match.
You can’t keep reshuffling the defence when there isn’t much depth beyond the first‑choice players," Neville argued. The constant changes, he suggested, undermine any chance of building cohesion and consistency at the back.
The decisive moment of the match came when Everton’s Ainsley Maitland‑Niles, on his debut for the club, struck a spectacular 25‑yard equaliser in stoppage time. While Neville admitted the strike was a thing of beauty, he was equally frustrated with United’s lack of organisation leading up to the goal.
"Manchester United are conceding two goals a game – you simply cannot afford that. The defensive issues have been highlighted since the transfer window, and United needed to secure a win today.
Instead, they allowed two spectacular goals," he said. Neville went on to dissect the build‑up to the equaliser, describing it as a "massive mistake" rooted in poor communication. He noted that defender Dorgu was caught out of position, pressing in isolation, which allowed Everton to play the ball through him.
"Yoro was brought on at right‑back and immediately highlighted the problem – he is too narrow, leaving gaps for the opposition," Neville added. He stressed that a lot of the danger occurred before the ball even crossed the line, and that United’s players needed to be more disciplined, especially when protecting a lead away from home.
Reflecting on his own playing days, Neville recalled a period between Peter Schmeichel and Edwin van der Sar when opponents at Old Trafford often felt they could break through United’s defence. "Teams believed they had a chance against us, and we weren’t defensively strong enough. That feeling that you can score against you is a terrible place to be," he said, drawing a parallel to the current situation. In summary, Neville’s analysis paints a bleak picture for United’s defensive outlook.
He warns that unless Carrick can find a way to stabilise the back line, the pattern of conceding goals will continue to undermine the team’s ambitions, both domestically and in Europe. The upcoming fixtures against a high‑powered Manchester City side and a mid‑week continental clash will serve as a crucial test of whether United can tighten up at the back or whether their defensive woes will persist, potentially costing them vital points and progression in cup competitions.