Gary Neville has slammed Manchester United’s defending in the 2-2 draw against Everton at the Hill Dickinson Stadium on Sunday, 6 September, in the Premier League. The Red Devils took the lead twice in the game, but ended up dropping valuable points away from home.
Bryan Mbeumo scored within a minute into the second half, but the Toffees equalised through Tyrique George in the 83rd minute. Benjamin Sesko sent his team ahead once again five minutes later, and appeared to have won the game.
However, Ainsley Maitland-Niles struck in the sixth minute of injury time to seal a point for Everton. Neville has now explained what went wrong for his former team.
Neville slams Patrick Dorgu
Speaking after the game on the Gary Neville Podcast, Neville said: “Manchester United are conceding two goals a game, you can’t concede two goals a game. With the questions asked since the transfer window regarding the defence, United needed to win today and they couldn’t concede goals. Lazy analysis will say they conceded two spectacular goals.”
Neville also blamed Patrick Dorgu for the last-gasp Everton equaliser, adding: “The Maitland-Niles goal is a really bad one. Dorgu for some reason chases out and presses, an isolated press. It gets played past Dorgu – it’s a massive mistake, a lack of communication.”
“United had to change their back four during the match. Yoro coming on at right-back highlights the problem – he plays so narrow. A lot happens before the ball goes in the net. When you’re playing away holding onto a result, you have to push up and don’t do stupid things.”
“They could have stopped the goal at source. I was screaming as it happened as they had to be organised, they weren’t organised in the final few minutes.”
Oppositions believe they have a chance against United
Neville drew on his previous experience to highlight how teams now believe they have a chance against United. He continued: “Teams think they have a chance against them. I played in a Man Utd team where teams, in the period between Peter Schmeichel and Edwin Van Der Sar, did feel they had a chance against us at Old Trafford and we weren’t quite good enough defensively.”
“Teams have the feeling that they can score. That’s a horrible place to be at.”
United have conceded two goals in each of their three games this season. Only Chelsea, Crystal Palace, Ipswich Town and Fulham have let in more goals in the Premier League.
Most Goals Conceded in the Premier League: 2026/27 Season
| Rank | Club | Goals Conceded | Games Played | Games Won | Games Drawn | Games Lost | Goals Scored | xG | xGA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Crystal Palace | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 5.14 | 6.07 |
| 2 | Ipswich | 8 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 4 | 4.53 | 6.47 |
| 3 | Chelsea | 7 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 8 | 5.68 | 5.07 |
| 4 | Fulham | 7 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 5.49 | 6.79 |
| 5 | Man United | 6 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | 7.57 | 4.37 |
| 6 | Aston Villa | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2.59 | 5.31 |
| 7 | Bournemouth | 5 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 4 | 4.34 | 4.74 |
| 8 | Brighton | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 7.46 | 6.00 |
| 9 | Coventry | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2.80 | 4.38 |
| 10 | Tottenham | 5 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3.09 | 6.29 |
Source: StatsMuse.
Pressure on United ahead of Manchester Derby
United face Sabah at Old Trafford on Thursday, before hosting Manchester City at home on Sunday, 13 September. The Citizens have won all three games in the Premier League so far and have shown no signs of struggle despite Enzo Maresca taking over from Pep Guardiola this summer.
Neville pointed out that Sunday’s result piles pressure on his former team ahead of the Manchester derby, adding: “It puts a bit of pressure on Manchester United as they have Man City next week and a European game in midweek.”
“Michael Carrick is trying to build a trust with his team and with the fans that he can repeat what he did last season. That game should have been won today. Everton weren’t at it in the first half. They let Everton back into the game.”
The former United skipper also pointed out that he is worried about United’s tendency to concede goals, concluding: “They have a liability of conceding goals and it’s not going away. That is my fear. Conceding goals will hunt them and chase them down the road.”
“I’m not sure how Carrick will deal with it as he’s already got his best back four on the pitch. Why did Shaw and Dalot go off with five minutes to go? Ruben Amorin and Erik ten Hag changed their back four too. You can’t be changing your back four. There’s not much behind the first choice. So you can’t change it.”
Final Thoughts
United have to learn from their mistakes and regroup quickly ahead of the midweek Champions League tie. The game will also represent a challenge for Carrick, who will have to effectively rotate his squad ahead of the Manchester Derby.
Featured image by Dan Mullan/Getty Images
