Manchester United Concede Six Goals in Three Games, Neville Warns: Defensive Problems Will Not Disappear

Manchester United have conceded again, and this time it was two goals once more. In the third round of the Premier League, Manchester United drew 2-2 away at Everton, conceding two goals in each of their first three matches. The six goals conceded have left club legend Gary Neville worried that the team's tendency to concede may not disappear.

In this match, Manchester United took the lead twice, with Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko each scoring, but Everton equalised on both occasions. In stoppage time, Everton's Ainsley Maitland-Niles scored to help the hosts secure a hard-earned point. Manchester United manager Michael Carrick insisted after the match that the team's start to the season was “not that bad”, but the reality of earning only four points from three games is clearly not reassuring.

Neville: The problem of conceding goals will not disappear

Neville was uncompromising in his analysis. He believes Manchester United's biggest issue at present is not their attack, but the defensive habit of conceding goals. “They have a responsibility for conceding goals, and this problem is not going to disappear, that is my fear. The goals they concede will keep following them and chasing them,” Neville said. “I don't know how Carrick is going to solve it, because he has already put his best back four on the pitch.”

What frustrated Neville even more was Manchester United's substitutions late in the match. He questioned: “Why were Shaw and Dalot taken off with five minutes remaining? Ruben Amorim and Ten Hag have also changed the back four. You cannot keep changing the back four, and there is not much available on the bench, so you cannot make that change.”

Maitland-Niles' goal and Manchester United's defensive problems

Maitland-Niles' goal was indeed impressive, and Neville acknowledged it was a “fantastic strike”, but he was more concerned about Manchester United's defensive organisation before the goal. “Manchester United concede two goals every game, and you cannot concede two goals every game. Since the transfer window, questions about the defence have continued to be raised. Manchester United had to win today, and they could not afford to concede,” Neville said.

He specifically highlighted the defensive mistakes in the build-up to the goal: “I don't know why Dorgu went out to press, an isolated press. The ball went past him — it was a huge mistake and there was a lack of communication. Manchester United had to adjust to a back four during the game, with Yoro coming on as a right-back, which itself shows the problem — his positioning was too narrow.”

Manchester City are next, and Manchester United's problems are only beginning

Neville also warned that Manchester United's upcoming schedule will not be easy. “This puts pressure on Manchester United. They play Manchester City next week, and there is also a European match in midweek,” he said. “Carrick is trying to build trust with the team and the fans, proving that he can replicate last season's success. But this was a game they should have won. Everton were not in the match in the first half; Manchester United allowed them back into the game themselves.”

Six goals conceded in three games, averaging two goals per match, is a warning sign for any Premier League team. For Manchester United, the more difficult issue is that Carrick appears to have no better options available. As Neville said, the best back four have already been on the pitch, and substitutions cannot solve the fundamental problem. If the defensive situation remains the same against Manchester City, Manchester United's troubles may only just be beginning.