Gary Neville Warns Michael Carrick: Manchester United Cannot Repeat Old Mistakes After Everton Collapse

Gary Neville has delivered a blunt warning to Michael Carrick after Manchester United’s dramatic collapse against Everton — insisting the new boss cannot afford to repeat the defensive mistakes that haunted his predecessors.

United twice took the lead at Old Trafford on Sunday, only to surrender it on both occasions before Ainsley Maitland-Niles struck a 96th-minute equaliser to snatch a 2-2 draw for Everton.

For Neville, the late heartbreak exposed a much bigger problem.

United are conceding far too many goals, and the former captain fears the weakness could continue to “hunt them down” throughout the season unless Carrick finds a solution quickly.

Neville’s Big Fear for Carrick

Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast, the former United defender questioned the decision to make late changes to the full-back positions.

Luke Shaw and Diogo Dalot were both withdrawn with only around five minutes remaining, despite United holding the lead.

Neville admitted he could not understand the decision.

“You can’t be changing your back four.”

His frustration was rooted in more than Sunday’s result.

United have already conceded six goals in their opening three games, and Neville believes that defensive instability could become a recurring problem.

“I think conceding goals is going to chase them and hunt them down the road,” he warned.

For Carrick, that is a serious challenge.

‘You Can’t Change Your Back Four’

Neville believes United’s strongest defensive unit needs consistency rather than constant alterations.

He pointed to the back four of Shaw, Dalot, Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez and argued that Carrick does not currently have enough depth to make late defensive changes without increasing the risk.

His criticism also carried an uncomfortable comparison with the managers who came before Carrick.

Neville noted that both Ruben Amorim and Erik ten Hag regularly changed their defensive line — and he believes Carrick cannot fall into the same pattern.

The former United captain made his point emphatically: when protecting a narrow lead, disrupting the back four can create unnecessary uncertainty.

Everton Exposed a Familiar United Problem

Neville also felt United should have killed the game off much earlier.

Everton had struggled during the first half, while United controlled large portions of the match.

But instead of putting the visitors away, United allowed them back into the contest.

Neville described the performance as lacking the “killer instinct” required to finish off opponents when they are vulnerable.

That failure ultimately proved costly.

Everton’s two goals were excellent strikes, but Neville believes United still need to examine why the opportunities were allowed to develop in the first place.

Carrick Admits United Must Improve

Carrick did not attempt to dismiss the criticism after the final whistle.

The United boss acknowledged that his team must become more difficult to score against.

“We need to concede fewer goals to give us a better chance of winning games.”

He also pointed out that Everton’s goals came from two impressive strikes from distance — the kind of efforts that can sometimes simply fly into the top corner.

But that explanation will not remove the underlying concern.

United cannot rely on spectacular goals being rare.

They need a defensive structure capable of surviving matches even when opponents find moments of quality.

A Huge Week Is Coming

Carrick has little time to solve the problem.

United return to action on Thursday in the Champions League against Azerbaijani side Sabah before facing Manchester City at Old Trafford on Sunday.

That derby could provide an immediate test of whether Carrick has learned from the Everton collapse.

United have shown enough attacking quality to suggest they can compete.

But Neville’s warning is clear: if the goals keep going in at the other end, performances alone will not be enough.

The Everton draw was another two points dropped.

For Carrick, the bigger danger is allowing it to become a pattern.

And if United repeat the same mistakes that contributed to the struggles under previous managers, Neville fears those defensive problems could follow them all season.