Jamie Carragher: Chris Smalling and Phil Jones are not good enough for Man United

Jamie Carragher laid into the performance of the two young Englishmen at the back following the performance at Goodison Park

Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher has criticised Manchester United centre-back’s Phil Jones and Chris Smalling, after they were dismantled by a rampant Everton side on Sunday.

The Toffees ran out comfortable 2-0 winners, but could have scored even more.David Moyes’ return to Goodison Park since leaving last summer was not a fruitful one and Carragher believes that is down to his sides defensive issues, with neither Jones or Smalling particularly impressive.

Everton went in at half-time 2-0 to the good and Carragher believes the departure of Vidic, and perhaps Rio Ferdinand, in the summer transfer window leaves Manchester United vulnerable, and does not believe Jones and Smalling are the answer.

He told Sky Sports at half-time on Sunday: “You think of Roberto Martinez, you think of numbers in the middle of pitch and possession football. They [Everton] basically played 4-4-2 and went long and direct, because he’s maybe looked at Lukaku and thought he can bully these two centre-backs, these young centre-backs, who’ve been talked about for years and they’re not up to it.

“The Naismith chance, he should score, again bullying them. They’ve [Jones and Smalling] been like boys playing against men.

“For years they’ve had Vidic and Ferdinand to look after them now they’re on their own and they don’t seem able to handle it. They’ve been all over the place.”

Jones and Smalling struggled even more in the second-half and when Jonny Evans was hauled off for Javier Hernandez, the youngsters completed the game at centre-back together. Carragher believes Moyes must look for a new central-defender in the summer, otherwise they will have the same defensive woes next season.

Carragher said at full-time: “We’ve been told for years that these are the future centre-backs for Man United, when Vidic and Feridnand leave.

“There not up to it, they look good when playing alongside one of them [Vidic or Ferdinand]. They can’t play on their own, I think we’ve seen a lot of them this season – Ferdinand coming to the end of his career, Vidic being phased out. These are not good enough to play together, they need to buy a centre-back in the summer.”