Carragher questions Ten Hag's use of Man Utd star vs Liverpool - "He can't run"

17 December 2023 , 17:48

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Carragher questions Ten Hag's use of Man Utd star vs Liverpool - "He can't run"

Jamie Carragher ruthlessly declared that Manchester United star Sofyan Amrabat "can't run" during the midfielder's vulnerable performance at Anfield.

Amrabat, on loan from Fiorentina, was selected to start in Erik ten Hag's threadbare United side for Sunday's daunting trip to face arch enemies Liverpool in the Premier League. The Morocco international was shown a yellow card in the 35th minute which prompted Carragher to question Ten Hag's use of Amrabat, who was chasing shadows against Liverpool's midfield.

Following his booking, a bemused Carragher remarked on commentary on for Sky Sports: "I don't know why they're playing a man-to-man system. He [Amrabat] can't run."

Much has been made of Amrabat's lack of pace since joining United on transfer deadline day in September, with the 27-year-old notably linked with moves to fellow European giants such as Barcelona and Liverpool over the summer. His hard-working and composed performances for surprise package Morocco during the 2022 World Cup in Qatar shot him to stardom, yet it took injuries in the midfield department for United to make a move late in the summer window.

Since team-mate Casemiro was ruled out for three months in October, Amrabat has been a regular starter for Ten Hag and it was no shock to see him on the team sheet at Anfield. Paired with 18-year-old academy prospect Kobbie Mainoo, who also picked up a booking in the first half, he and the loanee failed to contain Liverpool's midfield, with the likes of Dominik Szoboszlai powering through.

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But it was 0-0 at half-time, with the visitors weathering the storm. Fans on social media found Carragher's assessment of Amrabat's performance hilarious, with one user writing: "Carragher is killing me straight up saying Amrabat can't run."

Another scathingly claimed: "Amrabat is looking Sunday league level here." A third fan then admitted: "I'd send Amrabat back to Fiorentina in January. Struggling to see what he actually excels at apart from getting needless yellow cards."

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Sofyan Amrabat struggled in the first half for Manchester United (Matthew Peters/Manchester United via Getty Images)

A Liverpool supporter expressed their relief at the club's decision not to sign the Moroccan. "I'm so glad we didn't sign Amrabat in the end," they said.

Some, however, disagreed with Carragher's take on Amrabat, with one fan saying: "Jamie Carragher casually saying Sofyan Amrabat can't run like he didn't dominate in the World Cup."

Nathan Ridley