Gary Neville has urged Manchester United to sign four new players and ‘trade’ Mason Mount following the team’s dramatic 3-2 Premier League victory over Liverpool at Old Trafford. The win secured United’s place in next season’s Champions League and all but confirmed third place in the league standings.
United’s Thrilling Win Over Liverpool
Michael Carrick’s side stormed into a two-goal lead within the first 15 minutes, with Matheus Cunha opening the scoring before Benjamin Sesko doubled the advantage. A comfortable home win seemed certain, but Liverpool fought back after a poor first half, equalising through Dominik Szoboszlai and Cody Gakpo. United risked losing a home game after leading at half-time for the first time since 1984, but Kobbie Mainoo’s 77th-minute strike secured the victory.
Neville’s Assessment of the Performance
Despite the result, Neville expressed mixed feelings about the performance. ‘Michael Carrick will be very happy tonight, but I think he will also be disappointed deep down that they haven’t gone on to win that game 3-0 or 4-0,’ Neville said on his Sky Sports podcast. ‘They should have killed that game and put Liverpool to sleep because they were nowhere near this football match. He’s won the game and that’s the most important thing, but Carrick won’t be fooled by some of what he saw in that second half.’
Four Priority Signings Needed
Neville, a former Manchester United captain, believes Carrick must rebuild the defence and midfield if he is appointed permanently. ‘He will know he needs to rebuild the defence and midfield. If you’re going to play 4-4-2, which I am massively in favour of United doing, you have to have two very special players in there and have defenders who can play one-on-one,’ Neville explained. ‘I think United need a left-back for next season because Luke Shaw has played every game this year and he may struggle. They need a centre-back, 100%, and they need two midfield players. Those are the four priorities right now.’
Potential ‘Trade’ for Mason Mount
Neville also suggested that United could target a fifth signing if they can ‘trade’ Mason Mount, who has struggled since his £60 million move from Chelsea in 2023. ‘Look, if you could then maybe trade Mason Mount for someone else who maybe can play in and out and can be a bit more flexible across the midfield and forward line then I would say go for a fifth. But if you can’t, I would say those four areas are the priority and they’ve got to be top-notch, those players,’ he added.
Carrick’s Future at Old Trafford
Carrick’s long-term future remains uncertain despite his impressive impact. When asked about his position after the Liverpool win, Carrick said: ‘It’s not about what I like or what I do not like. It’s not in my control. Everything has gone so well, we know the situation and where we are. I am happy with where we are at the moment and we still want to get better. Let’s see what happens next. At this moment in time, it’s not something I am thinking about.’
Manchester United’s final three Premier League matches are against Sunderland, Nottingham Forest, and Brighton. The club will look to finish the season strongly as they prepare for a return to Europe’s elite competition.
