Manchester United v AFC Bournemouth - Premier League 2026/27
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Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville turned his attention to the Manchester United backline against Aston Villa after a thrilling 4-4 Premier League draw at Old Trafford.
Michael Carrick shifted Leny Yoro into the centre-back pairing with Harry Maguire for Sunday’s clash after Lisandro Martinez was suspended due to his red card.
Leny Yoro’s return to centre-back allowed Diogo Dalot, who has been playing as a makeshift left-back, to return to his preferred right-back role in the starting XI.
Diogo Dalot vacated the left-back position for Manchester United’s Premier League encounter with Aston Villa and Noussair Mazraoui stepped into the position at the weekend.
Gary Neville slams the state of the Man Utd backline by the full-time whistle at Old Trafford
Harry Maguire was forced to come off at half-time due to a suspected back injury and Manchester United manager Michael Carrick brought on Ayden Heaven in his place. Carrick later tweaked the backline in the 66th minute after Diogo Dalot was hooked off and Patrick Dorgu marked his return for United from injury.
Aston Villa stunned United inside the opening four minutes after Alysson and Nicolas Jackson both netted past Senne Lammens. The Red Devils were able to pull level before half-time at Old Trafford after Bruno Fernandes and Youri Tielemans handed Carrick’s men a lifeline.
Gary Neville appeared in NBC Sports’ Premier League studio alongside Phil Neville and the former Man Utd captain was lost for words with the Red Devils’ backline. The Sky Sports pundit insisted that the four defenders at the end of United’s 4-4 draw are the type of backline that would end up getting a Premier League team relegated.
“But the reason that Manchester United have conceded four goals is [that] they haven’t invested in the defence in the transfer window,” he said.
Neville added: “Everybody knew they had to invest in the defence. They needed defenders. They’re making mistake after mistake after mistake. The defenders that finished that game will get you relegated.”
United’s defence was split wide open in the opening 10 minutes of the second half after John McGinn netted from the spot-kick before Leon Goretzka scored for Villa. With United trailing Unai Emery’s men 4-2 in the second half at Old Trafford, substitutes Patrick Dorgu and Joshua Zirkzee came to the Red Devils’ rescue.
Joshua Zirkzee reduced the deficit in the 92nd minute before Patrick Dorgu’s injury-time equaliser in the 96th minute clinched a Premier League point for United. The Red Devils now head into the November international break in the Premier League relegation zone, as Carrick’s men are in 18th place after their opening 10 league matches this season.