Carragher believes that Mourinho’s style is ‘not working’

Matt Stead

Jamie Carragher has claimed that Jose Mourinho’s “way, of late, is not working” at Manchester United.

Mourinho has come in for criticism for his approach to United’s game against Liverpool on Saturday.

The visitors were overly defensive at Anfield, having one shot on target, and none in the second half.

Carragher refused to be too critical of the Portuguese, but said that critics will have a point if they do not win the Premier League.

“Jose Mourinho has always been lauded – and rightly so – as the man for the big occasion, the man in a big game, a ‘Mourinho masterclass’ winning these games,” he told Sky Sports.

“His way, of late, is not working.

“I go back to when Peter Schmeichel was winning titles with Manchester United and they possibly had six big games – Liverpool home and away, Arsenal home and away and someone else challenging, whether it was Chelsea or Newcastle.

“That’s 18 points. With the top six now that’s 30 points. That’s a big part of the season. You’ve got 10 games home and away.

“If that doesn’t improve they won’t win the league and that’s when the criticism will come.

“I won’t criticise him for the way he played at Anfield because you can still win a game playing like that – but if those results continue I think it will be very difficult to win the title.

“Manchester City have already got six points out of six in the head-to-heads with Liverpool and Chelsea.

“Manchester United have had one game and one point against Liverpool and it’s a good result for Manchester United, not a bad result.

“But somewhere along the line he’s got to pick up these points. If he doesn’t, and City continue in the head-to-heads, that’s where the criticism will come that he’s been too negative.”