'That's highly disrespectful' - Jamie Carragher slammed for telling Casemiro to 'leave football' as Rio Ferdinand defends Man Utd midfielder after abysmal Liverpool display

Rivals Liverpool destroyed United 3-0 at Old Trafford on Sunday in the Premier League, with Casemiro culpably committing two errors that resulted in the game's first two goals. In his evaluation of United's miserable performance, Carragher chastised the 32-year-old after Erik ten Hag hooked him for youngster Toby Collyer at half-time.

Carragher had previously criticised Casemiro with the famous 'leave the football before the football leaves you' quote that went viral on social media last season. However, Ferdinand has now taken on the former Liverpool defender's comments and defended the legendary Brazilian midfielder.

Speaking on his show Rio Presents, Ferdinand said: "I heard Jamie Carragher say 'leave the football before the football leaves you' and I just think that's highly disrespectful.

"I just think it's really disrespectful because especially given what my man's [Casemiro] won, there's more to it than he's just made a couple of mistakes. If you look at the two games before Liverpool he's been arguably Man United's best player. I think it's easier to say that he's gone, he's finished, he's too old'.

"I believe when I look at him, he's being asked to do a lot of things like play 30-yard balls, dictate the pace, these are things Man United would never have recruited him for. He was never asked to do this at Real Madrid. He was cleaning up, security in front, slide tackling, covering all the gaps and then giving it to other people to play football."

The Brazilian has failed to receive the call-up from Dorival Junior to the Brazilian national team squad. However, he will look to recuperate with the Red Devils and return stronger when they take on Southampton on September 14 at St. Mary's Stadium.