Gary Neville expressed serious concern that Manchester United’s tendency to allow goals is unlikely to disappear, especially after the Red Devils 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 United, noting that even with a change in personnel, the problem remains stubbornly entrenched. Former midfielder Michael Carrick, who now manages the side, tried to put a more positive spin on the early season results, insisting that the team’s start "isn't that bad" despite the 2‑2 draw at Goodison Park, which left United with just four points from three games. Carrick emphasized that the squad is still finding its rhythm and that the draw, though disappointing, does not fully reflect the progress being made under his guidance.
Neville, however, was far from reassured. He pointed out that conceding six goals in three games is a serious alarm bell for any top‑flight club. In his view, Carrick’s current roster does not provide a clear solution to the defensive leaks. "It puts a bit of pressure on Manchester United as they have Man City next week and a European game in mid‑week," Neville said, underscoring the tight schedule that leaves little room for error.
He continued, "Michael Carrick is trying to build trust with his team and with the fans that he can repeat what he did last season. That game should have been won today. Everton weren’t at it in the first half. They let Everton back into the game.
They have a liability of conceding goals and it’s not going away. That is my fear. Conceding goals will hunt them and chase them down the road. I’m not sure how Carrick will deal with it as he’s already got his best back four on the pitch.
Why did Shaw and Dalot go off with five minutes to go? Ruben Amorin and Erik ten Hag changed their back four too.
You can’t be changing your back four. There’s not much behind the first choice.
So you can’t change it." Neville’s frustration was palpable when he described the late equaliser scored by Everton’s Ainsley Maitland‑Niles. The young midfielder struck a spectacular 25‑yard volley in stoppage time on his debut for the Toffees, a goal that Neville described as a "dream" but also as a symptom of United’s defensive disarray. He lamented the lack of organisation in the build‑up to the goal, noting that United’s back line appeared disjointed and vulnerable. "Manchester United are conceding two goals a game, you can’t concede two goals a game," Neville asserted.
"With the questions asked since the transfer window regarding the defence, United needed to win today and they couldn’t concede goals. Lazy analysis will say they conceded two spectacular goals.
The Maitland‑Niles goal is a really bad one. Dorgu for some reason chases out and presses, an isolated press.
It gets played past Dorgu – it’s a massive mistake, a lack of communication. United had to change their back four during the match. Yoro coming on at right‑back highlights the problem – he plays so narrow." He went on to explain that defensive lapses often occur well before the ball reaches the net. "A lot happens before the ball goes in the net.
When you’re playing away holding onto a result, you have to push up and don’t do stupid things. They could have stopped the goal at source.
I was screaming as it happened as they had to be organised, they weren’t organised in the final few minutes." Neville also drew on his own playing experience, recalling a period between the Peter Schmeichel and Edwin van der Sar eras when opponents began to believe they could breach United’s defence at Old Trafford. "Teams think they have a chance against them. I played in a Man Utd team where teams, in the period between Peter Schmeichel and Edwin Van Der Sar, did feel they had a chance against us at Old Trafford and we weren’t quite good enough defensively. Teams have the feeling that they can score.
That’s a horrible place to be at," he reflected. The former defender’s comments highlight a broader issue for Carrick’s side: the need to establish a clear defensive identity and to stick with a consistent back‑four.
Frequent rotations, whether due to injury, tactical tweaks, or fatigue, have prevented the back line from developing the cohesion necessary to repel sustained pressure. Neville’s critique of the substitutions – notably the removal of Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot in the dying minutes – underscores his belief that continuity is essential. Beyond the immediate tactical concerns, there is a psychological dimension. Conceding goals regularly can erode confidence, leading players to become overly cautious or, conversely, to over‑commit in attack, leaving gaps at the back.
This cycle can be self‑reinforcing, especially when high‑profile matches loom on the horizon, such as the upcoming clash with Manchester City and a mid‑week European fixture. The pressure to perform in these games may amplify the defensive anxieties Neville has voiced.
In summary, while Carrick remains optimistic about the squad’s potential and insists the early season form is not disastrous, Neville’s analysis paints a stark picture of a defence that is still vulnerable and in need of urgent attention. The Red Devils must find a way to tighten up at the back, reduce the frequency of goals conceded, and build a resilient defensive framework if they hope to compete on multiple fronts this season.
The next few weeks will be crucial in determining whether United can arrest this worrying trend or if the goal‑conceding habit will continue to haunt them throughout the campaign.