Sunday 26 April 2015 22:20, UK
Jamie Carragher believes teams have started to work out a way to beat Manchester United after Everton inflicted a second straight Premier League defeat on Louis van Gaal's side.
United enjoyed long spells of possession at Goodison Park but struggled to create any real openings as Everton ran out 3-0 winners thanks to goal from James McCarthy, John Stones and Kevin Mirallas.
The game followed a similar patter to United's defeat to Chelsea last week and Carragher thinks Roberto Martinez paid close attention to Jose Mourinho's tactics to help steer his side to victory.
"We've been very complimentary about Manchester United in the last few weeks," Carragher, speaking on Super Sunday, said.
"Louis van Gaal has got a system, a way of playing but in the last week it looks like teams have come up with a way of playing against them. They are saying: have the ball.
"This is Roberto Martinez. Jose Mourinho is that type of manager but with Roberto Martinez, his teams would never normally have such low possession.
"But against United, they accepted they'll have the ball and decided to hit them on the counter-attack."
It looks like teams are looking at Manchester United and thinking how to stop them. Chelsea and Everton have come up with a way, certainly in those midfield areas.
Carragher was full of praise for Everton's midfield trio of McCarthy, Gareth Barry and Ross Barkley and insists they were the key reason behind the Toffees' third consecutive home win against United.
He added: "In the midfield areas, there was a job that was done last week by Zouma on Fellaini. I think Gareth Barry did a similar job today but the fact James McCarthy got the man of the match and Barry was in the running was the job they did.
"It wasn't just Fellaini in this midfield for United; it's the job of Herrera as well. McCarthy looked after him, as did Ross Barkley. You wouldn't say he had his greatest game in terms of being on the ball and going forward but how disciplined he was. His job was to stop Daley Blind.
"Those three players were virtually doing man-marking jobs and the three of them did it excellently. That's where they got the win from because they won the ball back quickly and could counter-attack.
"It looks like teams are looking at Manchester United and thinking how to stop them. Chelsea and Everton have come up with a way, certainly in those midfield areas."
Graeme Souness also believes teams have found a way of stopping the threat of United by shackling Marouane Fellaini.
The Belgium international has been a key figure in United's surge up the table but Souness believes Chelsea - and now Everton - have toppled United by nullifying the threat of the former Everton midfielder.
Have they (Everton) learnt how to play against Man United? Take care of Fellaini and you’re a long way to taking care of them.
"If you go back a week, Van Gaal said after the Chelsea game that it was the best his team have played since his time at Manchester United," Souness told Sky Sports.
"We highlighted Fellaini before the game and how much of the attacking side of Manchester United is down to him. He is a real threat for them when he gets in the final third.
"The threat was taken away last week with Kurt Zouma man-marking him and this week he gets himself in trouble early on. It looks like he could get sent off so he's been taken off and the threat is gone.
"He is such a large part of Man United when they get in the last third. Have they learnt how to play against Man United? Take care of Fellaini and you’re a long way to taking care of them."
