Jamie Carragher has identified one major issue with Manchester United and Ruben Amorim already has the puzzle pieces needed to ‘fix’ the problem this season.
The 47-year-old Liverpool legend was in the Sky Sports studio for Manchester United’s thrilling 4-4 draw against Bournemouth in Monday’s Premier League clash.
Man Utd’s starting XI had an interesting shape vs Bournemouth
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Man Utd average position vs Bournemouth
Man Utd average position vs Bournemouth
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Jamie Carragher admitted on Monday Night Football that United’s display against Bournemouth was the “best” he had seen from the team under Ruben Amorim.
United manager Amorim watched on from the Old Trafford dugout as the Red Devils went 2-1 up against the Cherries before the half-time whistle in their match.
The Red Devils were dominant in the first half and Amad Diallo and Casemiro added their names to the scoresheet in the Premier League encounter on Monday.
READ MORE: Casemiro showed Man Utd fans his unfiltered reaction in Bournemouth match, he was not messing around
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Jamie Carragher tells Man Utd fans what a key area of concern is at the club under Ruben Amorim
Manchester United failed to capitalise on their chances in the first half and the Red Devils continued to allow Bournemouth to climb back into the match at Old Trafford.
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The Red Devils’ defence struggled to hold their own and United even went 3-2 down against Bournemouth in the second half before rallying back in the 4-4 draw.
Senne Lammens earned high praise from United fans after his injury-time heroics prevented the Cherries from snatching all three Premier League points.
However, the 23-year-old Belgian shot-stopper ended another match in his United career without getting a second clean sheet to his name since his summer move.
This number needs to be so much higher! Cunha and Mbeumo have great potential together!
If Cunha and Mbeumo were on the pitch together for 75% or more of our total minutes, what position would we be in the Premier League table?
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Jamie Carragher might have sung praises about United’s attack against Bournemouth, but he did point out the defensive issues in Ruben Amorim’s backline.
“But clean sheets are a big problem for them,” he told Sky Sports.
“They had problems at both ends of the pitch last season.”
Carragher added: “They had a lot of young defenders out there tonight that didn’t help.
“I’ve been there, more often than not, when you make a mistake as a young defender, it ends up in the back of your goal and that was the mistake tonight.”
READ MORE: Andoni Iraola knows exact two Man Utd stars who were ‘punishing’ Bournemouth as Bruno Fernandes is praised
Ruben Amorim has the answer to Jamie Carragher’s criticism of Man Utd — but there is a catch
Unless Senne Lammens somehow turns into a prime David de Gea overnight, the Red Devils’ backline will remain a major issue in the short term for United.
The Belgium international is only one part of the puzzle piece that Amorim needs to put in place in his tactical system, as Lammens alone cannot ensure clean sheets.
The biggest boost for Amorim at the moment is that he can now turn to Lisandro Martinez for second-half cameo appearances, much like he did on Monday evening.
Senne Lammens saved Man Utd at the end vs Bournemouth
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Lisandro Martinez has made his return from a knee injury and the 27-year-old United defender is building much-needed minutes after his lengthy absence on the sidelines.
Once the 2022 World Cup winner does hit his full fitness and can start matches, then Martinez’s partnership with Matthijs de Ligt will be the major key for Amorim.
Matthijs de Ligt has been absent from United first-team action in recent weeks due to an injury, but it is only a matter of time before the 26-year-old finally returns.
De Ligt and Martinez starting in the three-man backline with Lammens between the sticks could be the missing puzzle pieces to solve United’s defensive woes.
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