Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher says Louis van Gaal is "very lucky" to avoid criticism for his record as Manchester United manager this season. Carragher wrote in the Daily Mail: "Lucky man, Louis van Gaal. Very lucky, in fact. At this point last season, the heat on David Moyes was being turned up mercilessly, so why is his successor escaping?

"Think about it: United have exactly the same points (37) from the same number of games (21); they have scored one goal fewer in the Barclays Premier League than the 35 Moyes's side had managed, even after spending more than £150million last summer.

"But it goes deeper than statistics.

"Moyes was preparing for a Capital One Cup semi-final against Sunderland and had the Champions League last 16 on his horizon; Van Gaal has had no Europe and overseen one of the most embarrassing defeats in United history.

"Yet the 4-0 drubbing they suffered at the hands of MK Dons in August was quickly forgotten and when United failed to have a shot on target against Southampton last weekend, again there was no major inquest."