Gary Neville was left fuming with Jamie Carragher after asking him to predict where Manchester United will finish in the Premier League this season, before dragging an honest answer out of him
Gary Neville was bamboozled by Jamie Carragher as he quizzed him on where Manchester United will finish this season. He also accused him of being dishonest after hearing his forecast.
Following his bold claim that his former club will secure fourth place this season during a Sky Sports Premier League discussion, Neville pressed Carragher for his verdict on where he expects the Red Devils to conclude their season. The Liverpool icon responded: "I would see a European contender," prompting Neville to brand him a "bottle merchant" for refusing to provide a specific position.
When Carragher clarified that he sees United finishing either seventh or eighth in the table, Neville slammed his co-pundit and accused him of being untruthful. He said: "You think they're going to be eighth?
"You don't think they're eighth and I know you don't, because I know you. I know your facials very well. You don't believe Manchester United after yesterday are finishing eighth," reports the Manchester Evening News.
Carragher then replied: "I think the best they can get is Europa League. They're getting nowhere near Champions League. Sixth, seventh, in the mix for that."
Determined to extract a precise number from Carragher rather than a vague prediction, Neville asked again: "What's your position? You can't just say..." before Carragher replied: "Well, what's Europa League? So is Champions League top five? Could be top five, could be top four.
"Let's say it's top five like last season. I don't see them getting Champions League, so they could be six, seven, eight. One of those positions."
Wide-eyed and with his hand on his forehead in visible frustration, Neville then said: "Oh my God, what position is it?" for one last time. Thankfully, he managed to get a straight answer out of his fellow pundit that time round, with Carragher responding: "Seventh. We'll do it in the middle. We'll call them seventh."
It comes as the Red Devils endured a disappointing 1-0 loss against Arsenal in their Premier League curtain-raiser at Old Trafford on Sunday, with Riccardo Calafiori connecting with the ball at the far post from a corner to secure victory for the Gunners. However, there are hopes that Ruben Amorim's summer recruitment drive will bear fruit in time.
The Portuguese manager could only achieve a woeful 15th-place finish in the table last campaign with the squad he took over from Erik ten Hag. Following the decision to support Amorim financially and grant him a complete pre-season programme to get ready, the United hierarchy will demand improved displays from the side this time around.
The Red Devils have already splashed out over £200million on talents including Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko, But they could still be poised to bring in additional new arrivals before the transfer window shuts on September 1.
Their next challenge is against Fulham at Craven Cottage on Sunday, as they look to claim their first Premier League points of the campaign away from home.