A former Arsenal defender has warned Jamie Carragher that his criticism of Casemiro was 'too harsh'.

The Manchester United midfielder endured a horror 45 minutes in his side's 3-0 defeat by Liverpool on the Sunday before the international break, giving the ball away for the first two goals of the game.

He was then hauled off at half time by manager Erik ten Hag, replaced by youngster Toby Collyer, though Ten Hag backed him to bounce back in the aftermath of the defeat.

And Carragher didn't hold back in his criticism on commentary, blasting the veteran as he sat beside Sky Sports colleague and former United defender Gary Neville.

Ex-Arsenal and Chelsea man William Gallas has hit back at the broadcaster, criticising him for his analysis of the Brazilian's performance in the game.

A former Arsenal defender has blasted Jamie Carragher's criticism of Casemiro as 'too harsh'

Carragher (pictured) said the midfielder's performance against Liverpool was 'sad to see'

William Gallas, meanwhile, has defender Casemiro on the back of his horror show last Sunday

'He's had such a great career and won everything you can possibly win, and it is a sad sight seeing what he's going through out there,' Carragher said at the time.

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'A poor pass can happen any time, but the second one, getting knocked over, he looks shattered as he's falling over.'

Gallas said, via The Mirror: 'Jamie Carragher is too harsh on Casemiro. Casemiro is in a bad moment and maybe he'll end up leaving United, but he might enjoy his football again if he was to return to Spain for example.

'He's only 32 so he's nowhere near retirement. I think he's got another five or six years before retirement.'

'The big question over Casemiro is, is he happy in Manchester? In my opinion, his body language suggests that he isn't happy living there. He is making so many more mistakes than when he was at Real Madrid, when he lived with a great lifestyle and sunshine. Now he is in Manchester and it's cold and raining and it can be difficult for some players off the pitch.

'He's from Brazil and then lived in Spain and it's not like he just jumped across the border from France where the weather is similar. It's not always easy.'

Casemiro has made 87 appearances for United since joining in the summer of 2022, though he has struggled to reach the heights of his Real Madrid spell that saw him win five Champions League titles.

Rio Ferdinand had earlier branded Carragher's words as 'highly disrespectful' as the duo reignited their feud.

Neville said at the time of Casemiro's performance: 'I have to say he's lost his confidence a little bit. For Casemiro, someone who has won Champions Leagues with Real Madrid, it can happen to you in games.'

Analysing Liverpool's second goal, Neville explained: 'Casemiro just gets shrugged off the ball. Never a foul, he just nicks it away from him.' 

The midfielder was taken off at half time of the game after being at fault for the first two goals

Ten Hag, meanwhile, said after of his man: 'It is what the team needed [the substitution]. You know when you are 2-0 down against Liverpool you have to take more risks, it will be open.

'When you are losing you have to take more risks. I have to give compliments to the team. You have to keep fighting and sticking together.

'You know the game and he knows the game. He will go on and we will go on. He's a great player. We will continue this season to improve the team and the players.

'He improved and has shown so often that he is a great character. He has won everything in his career.'