Jamie Carragher claims Manchester United have NO identity under Erik ten Hag

Jamie Carragher has warned Manchester United t Erik ten Hag and are rudderless to the point where no discernible style of play has emerged in 18 months under the Dutchman.

United were outclassed by City in the Manchester derby on Sunday, losing 3-0 at Old Trafford and showing no tangible sign of closing the gap to the Premier League champions.

If anything, Carragher believes United may be slipping further away under ten Hag, citing their lack of identity as a major issue.

'None of us here can explain what Manchester United try to do in terms of how they play,' the former Liverpool defender said on Sky Sports on Sunday.

'He [ten Hag] has been here now nearly 18 months. We've seen Unai Emery come in at Aston Villa, we've seen Ange Postecoglou come in at Tottenham.

'In a short space of time, it doesn't mean you win every week, but when you go to the games you know what you're going to see.

'We still don't know what we're going to see with Manchester United. You tell me how they play with the ball.'

United finished third in ten Hag's first season in charge and won a first trophy in six years, but any credit the Dutchman built last term is swiftly ebbing away.

The 20-time champions of England are marooned in eighth spot on the table, 11 points behind league leaders Tottenham and eight behind fourth-placed Liverpool.

United have lost five of their 10 Premier League games so far this season and have scored as many goals as a team - 11 - as Erling Haaland has on his own.

While Carragher conceded the ongoing uncertainty over the takeover did not help ten Hag, he insisted United's lack of identity on the pitch could not be blamed on the Glazers.

'Every time they get beat badly in a game, everything goes back to the ownership,' he said.

'Of course it's not right, the supporters are not happy, but what you're talking about is a style of football

'What he's doing on the training pitch Monday to Friday has got nothing to do with Jim Radcliffe coming in.

'What does he want those players to do? When they are building from the back - and we see every top team in the league do it - what are Manchester United trying to do with the ball?'

Carragher elaborated further, suggesting United's approach was typical of a team looking to avoid being comprehensively outclassed by better opponents.

'They are playing underdog football and they have done since he came in,' he said.

'They play counter-attack and they play a lot of long balls. No other top team plays like that.

'It's nothing to do with what's going on above him. What's he doing on the training pitch, with the players he brings in, and what's he asking them to do? You can't see it.'

Ten Hag's signings at Old Trafford have been largely underwhelming. Antony, the club's second-most expensive signing at £82million, was uninfluential as he came for a second half cameo.

Mason Mount, a £60m summer signing for Chelsea, was benched for the third straight fixture and failed to make any impact when he came on, while loan signing Sofyan Amrabat was withdrawn at half-time.

Casemiro, meanwhile, has struggled to recapture the form he showed in his first season at Old Trafford after joining from Real Madrid for £60m last summer.

The Brazilian was absent on Sunday, but Carragher described him as 'one of the worst signings they have made.'

Speaking on the same panel, Gary Neville acknowledged United had allowed ten Hag to dictate recruitment policy.

'They have allowed another manager to come in and dictate policy and let the tail wag the dog on recruitment,' he said.

'They have brought eight Eredivisie players in from basically a league that Erik ten Hag thinks he trusts.'