Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville clash again over Liverpool and Man Utd managers - The Mirror

Manchester United kept their manager over the summer while Liverpool made a change in the dugout, prompting Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher to debate the two cubs' choices

Jamie Carragher and Gary Neville found themselves at loggerheads as they debated Manchester United and Liverpool's contrasting decisions on the managerial front.

Liverpool knew as long ago as January that they would need a new manager this summer. They ended up appointing Arne Slot, but only after links with the likes of Xabi Alonso and Ruben Amorim ended up going nowhere.

Bayer Leverkusen manager Alonso and Sporting boss Amorim both stayed put, as did United manager Erik ten Hag. A change in the dugout at Old Trafford was considered, with at least one candidate sounded out, but ultimately the club's higher-ups kept the faith.

Ten Hag and Slot faced off in the final Premier League game before the international break, with Liverpool's new man coming out on top. However, Neville and Carragher found themselves arguing over the matter of first-choice managers for the two clubs.

"I think there was some sentiment after the final. The fans wanted Ten Hag to be kept on and backed," Neville said on the Stick to Football podcast

"They have seen enough managers sacked over the years. I think they sounded out Graham Potter, Gareth Southgate, Roberto De Zerbi and Thomas Tuchel around that time. But there was a bit of a negative reaction from fans.

"There is no doubt they were having a flirt around the market and seeing what they could do. I think if there was an unbelievable manager that could improve United 100 percent, beyond what Ten Hag could, they would have made a change. Liverpool had six months to replace Jurgen Klopp and still found it challenging to get their top targets."

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"Where are you getting it from that Arne Slot wasn't Liverpool's top target?" Carragher asked in response, only to be reminded by Neville of his own claims that the Merseyside club would "definitely" go after their former midfielder Alonso.

"That is my opinion!" Carragher replied. "I am sure they did ask about Alonso and were told straight away that he was staying at Bayer Leverkusen. You’re saying Liverpool had this big search…how do we know exactly what went on behind the scenes at Liverpool? Why didn’t Man United employ Arne Slot then?”

Neville suggested United would have considered Slot, who was linked with other Premier League jobs during his time at Feyenoord. “I think they’d have looked at him, but thought can we really get rid of a guy [in Ten Hag] who has won two trophies in two years, who hasn’t been backed by the proper structure, to bring another Dutch manager in?" he asked.

Carragher was having none of it, though. "What do you mean without a proper structure?!" he said. "He’s gone out and brought in everyone he wanted!"

Speaking during NOS' coverage of Euro 2024, Ten Hag confirmed United were considering Tuchel "Manchester United have told me that they spoke with Tuchel, but they eventually came to the conclusion that they already have the best manager," he said in June.

Weeks later, he agreed a contract extension with the club until 2026. “In my discussions with the club, we have found complete unity in our vision for reaching those goals, and we are all strongly committed to making that journey together," Ten Hag said when the deal was confirmed.

Since being backed, though United's manager has endured a tough start to the season with two defeats from three. Slot, in contrast, has won three games from three as a Premier League manager.

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