MANCHESTER UNITED have ‘bottled’ the fight to win the Premier League title, according to Liverpool hero Jamie Carragher.
The Red Devils’ hopes of winning their first league title in eight years suffered a huge blow on Saturday as they were held to a 3-3 draw by Everton.
Dominic Calvert-Lewin’s stoppage-time equaliser saw United miss the opportunity to go level on points with table-toppers Manchester City, who extended their lead at the summit of the table on Sunday with a 4-1 win over Liverpool.
And Carragher believes Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s troops were overcome by the magnitude of the opportunity.
He told Sky Sports: “I think Man United in the last few weeks have almost bottled it, they’ve got there and have been so excited they’re there and have almost talked themselves out of it with the last few results they’ve had.
“I don’t think there’s much belief there.”
Carragher was equally as baffled by Solskjaer’s claim neither he nor his troops are thinking about winning the league.
He added: “Listening to the comments of the Manchester United manager…Man Utd just seem happy to be involved – I cannot believe it.
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“It’s a unique season; Liverpool have no centre-backs, City have had no strikers and De Bruyne has been out.
“We were saying last season that City were off the boil; they’re only three points better off so it shows they’re still not the City of two, three years ago.”
Solskjaer, 47, believes United’s title hopes have been drastically overhyped by the media.
The Norwegian said: “We shouldn’t even be considered as title-chasers.
“That’s one for you [the media] – we’ve got to be better as a team and let’s see where we end up. Going forward, we need to stop conceding easy goals.
“They had three shots that hit between the goals and they scored three goals. It’s disappointing.
“And when it’s in the last minute of added time it’s very disappointing. I wouldn’t blame anyone on the goals but we know we can defend better.”
Manchester United will be back in action on Tuesday night, welcoming West Ham to Old Trafford for their FA Cup fifth-round tie.
The Red Devils will return to league action on Saturday afternoon, travelling to the Hawthorns to take on West Brom.
