Carragher calls out Neville for shifting United prediction after Hull City humiliation

Jamie Carragher publicly challenged Gary Neville over a series of shifting predictions on Manchester United following their 2-0 Premier League opening-day loss to Hull City at the MKM Stadium, with Neville eventually naming Arsenal as his title favourites and United finishing no higher than fourth.

Michael Carrick’s side were beaten comfortably in their season opener, conceding twice from set-pieces — a result that Neville said exposed defensive weaknesses and convinced him United need further investment at the back. It was only Carrick’s second defeat as manager, but the manner of the loss raised questions about the squad despite another significant summer of spending.

When the two pundits discussed the fallout, Carragher was quick to highlight what he saw as inconsistency from his former England teammate. “I’ve heard you’ve changed it four times over the weekend,” Carragher said. “So after United played, he changed it to Liverpool. Liverpool played and he changed it to United.”

Neville acknowledged his thinking had evolved as the season drew closer. “A couple of weeks ago, I had United in third,” he said. “I didn’t have Chelsea where they were, but as you sort of get nearer to the season, you start to look at the squads and you start to think about it. You think about Chelsea and the fact they’ve got no European football. That’ll give them a big edge.”

Pushed for a definitive prediction, Neville settled on Arsenal as champions, Chelsea as runners-up, followed by Manchester City and United in fourth. He also admitted he could not separate United and Liverpool, suggesting both clubs would finish in the bottom half of the top five.

Carrick, meanwhile, urged calm after the defeat, insisting one result would not alter the club’s trajectory. “It’s one game. It’s the first game of the season so it’s disappointing enough and it hurts, of course it does,” he said. “But it doesn’t change the whole course of the direction the team or the football club is going in.”

The United manager was careful to distinguish between composure and complacency. “We’re not happy at all. I’m not happy we’ve lost the game. So it’s not let’s move on and everything’s okay,” Carrick added. “But the assessment of it, of keeping our composure and understanding where we want to get to — I think that’s important to think clearly.”