Gary Neville calls out four Man Utd players after Brighton defeat – 'Really poor'

Manchester United icon Gary Neville criticised the team’s defending following their late loss to Brighton and called out Harry Maguire, Lisandro Martinez, Noussair Mazraoui and Casemiro for their roles in the two goals condeded.

The former defender, who boasts eight Premier League titles and two Champions League trophies from his time at Old Trafford, believes there is mounting pressure on Erik ten Hag ahead of next week’s match against Liverpool.

The Sky Sports analyst also suggested that the Dutchman made a tactical error in the first half at the Amex Stadium by not selecting a recognised striker in the starting eleven.

Furthermore, 49-year-old Neville questioned whether the United manager has found the right balance and system after two lacklustre performances in the Premier League.

United suffered a 2-1 defeat with goals from ex-Red Devil Danny Welbeck and a last-minute header from Joao Pedro, with Amad Diallo scoring for the away team.

Speaking on the Gary Neville Podcast, he said: “The first goal they conceded was poor. I thought Harry Maguire should have dealt with the first one in, and then should have cut off the space when it was played back inside. Mazraoui should have got closer and it was poor from Martinez as well.

“So three of them contributed towards that. It was a really poor first goal to give away. Obviously they get back into it and then if that goal counts, the Zirkzee one where Garnacho plays it across and it’s in except it’s not in. That’s the problem.

“I think Zirkzee is trying to get out of the way of it, he’s trying to get up. So you think that’s it and the game is finishing 1-1. Then it is 2-1, and organisationally that is quite poor.

“They have cleared a corner and when you do that until you know that ball is fully cleared you don’t go back into your normal shape, You stay in your corner shape, your areas and come out together.

“And I think Casemiro and a couple of others run towards the ball and come across defenders which just leaves an absolute mountain of space at the back post.

“That is basics, you need to hold your discipline. If you’re a right back and find yourself at left back coming out after a corner, that’s where you stay for even a minute.

“They moved back into usual shape rather than treat it as a second phase of a corner, that was the big mistake they made. It is very difficult to play football without a centre forward. I know it has been done with false 9s.”

“Playing with Mount and Fernandes as the highest players with Amad and Rashford wide. It is almost as if they gave away a first half again. It is hard to score a goal like that. Amad had a chance in the first half where he should have done better at the back post.

“It is hard to score if you don’t have a good centre forward, let alone a centre forward at all. You need a focal point, someone to run in behind and stretch defences.

“I know Hojlund is injured. But when Zirksee comes on at half-time the game almost starts and they have almost given away 45 minutes. A draw wouldn’t have been a disaster, Brighton are a decent team and United have had some difficulties there.

“But when you lose and you have only beaten Fulham in the last few minutes it does put a little bit of pressure on the game next week against Liverpool, a bit of a squeeze.

“The balance isn’t right. That 4-2-2-2 that Erik ten Hag is going with… I don’t mind it. But you are finding Amad and Rashford are so wide you have almost got nothing up front.

“He had to correct it half time and he had to correct it against Fulham as well. So I expect next week they are probably going to change it against Liverpool.

“We know Erik ten Hag is going to be under pressure if he starts the season in the same vein as he did last season.”

“I think next week is really important before the international break getting a pattern of play, a style of play and a team picked that he believes is his best and go with it. They have got eight days before Liverpool, so now is the time with a break after that.”