Manchester United: Jamie Carragher blasts 'huge money' signing Matthijs de Ligt after Tottenham thrashing | OneFootball

Summer arrival from Bayern Munich struggled notably in Spurs debacle at Old Trafford that piled pressure on Erik ten Hag

Jamie Carragher has singled out Matthijs de Ligt for strong criticism following Manchester United’s woeful defeat by Tottenham.

The Dutch centre-back was part of an abysmal team display from the hosts in Sunday’s one-sided Premier League contest at Old Trafford, with Spurs running out deserved 3-0 winners thanks to goals from Brennan Johnson, Dejan Kulusevski and Dominic Solanke.

Such a dismal performance and result continued another worrying start to the season for United and saw the pressure on perennially under-fire manager Erik ten Hag significantly escalate once more less than three months after he was handed a contract extension.

Preciously few Red Devils players came out of the game against Tottenham with any credit, with sluggish United dominated for the majority of the first half when it was 11v11 before their task was made all the harder before the break by the dismissal of captain Bruno Fernandes for a challenge on James Maddison and Kobbie Mainoo limping off injured.

Criticism: Jamie Carragher highlighted Matthijs de Ligt’s shortcomings in the defeat by Tottenham

Reuters/PA

Other than Alejandro Garnacho hitting the post in the first half and a brief spirited rally with 10 men midway through the second half, United were blunt in attack and largely overwhelmed through the middle despite Ange Postecoglou naming just two out-and-out midfielders in his attacking Spurs team.

But it was their defending that appeared to most concern Carragher, with the Liverpool legend reserving particular criticism for De Ligt as he dissected the goals United conceded alongside former Chelsea boss - and rumoured Old Trafford managerial candidate - Graham Potter on the latest edition of Monday Night Football on Sky Sports.

Carragher laid a lot of the blame for Johnson’s goal inside just three minutes at the feet of the £43million summer signing from Bayern Munich, suggesting that he should, rather than being needlessly pre-occupied by Solanke, have closed the space to try and prevent fellow Dutch defender Micky van de Ven’s incredible surging run from inside his own half that ended with a perfect cross from the byline that was tapped home from close range.

He continued his criticism of De Ligt’s positioning and a rash attempted challenge on Timo Werner that then led to a Destiny Udogie run down the left, with Kulusevski feeding Johnson for a low strike that cannoned back off the post as Tottenham continued to pile on the first-half pressure.

The third example Carragher gave to highlight his struggles was Werner’s one-on-one chance that was thwarted by goalkeeper Andre Onana, with De Ligt’s positioning and slowness to react seemingly allowing the former Chelsea forward a clear route through on goal.

“In every situation there in that first half, two massive chances and the goal, in De Ligt, a player they brought in for huge money, he’s completely out of position all the time so he ends up having to go flying into challenges,” Carragher said.