Patrice Evra makes Man Utd vs Ipswich prediction and identifies player Michael Carrick is ‘missing’ | Football

Patrice Evra has backed Manchester United to rally after their opening-day defeat at Hull to ‘destroy’ Ipswich this weekend.

A dramatic end-of-season resurgence under Michael Carrick had United fans feeling positive ahead of the new campaign, with the club qualifying for the Champions League for the first time since 2023/24.

That sense of optimism quickly turned to frustration and despair, though, as Semi Ajayi and Nobel Mendy scored a pair of unanswered goals to ensure Hull secured all three points against United on their return to the Premier League.

The Red Devils ended the game with 71 per cent of the possession but could only muster a total of five shots on target, with Matheus Cunha, Bryan Mbuemo and Bruno Fernandes all denied by Konstantinos Tzolakis at MKM Stadium.

Carrick’s men have the perfect opportunity to respond versus another of the league’s new boys in Ipswich on Sunday afternoon – and they will be desperate to right their wrongs after a nightmare start to the new season.

Ipswich may well be tasting another upset heading into the contest after coming out on top in their two opening matches against Sunderland and Leicester in the Premier League and Carabao Cup respectively.

But when asked for his prediction during a live stream on Kick, former United full-back Evra replied: ‘I think Manchester United will destroy Ipswich.

‘But I think they’re going to suffer in the first half, then they are going to beat Ipswich 3-1.

‘I don’t see United losing this second game but also it’s a really tricky and dangerous game so I’m not going arrogant.

‘When I say they have to win 3-1 it’s because if we even draw, imagine the noise.’

According to Evra, the amount of ‘noise’ when United win or lose just goes to show that the Red Devils remain a ‘big club’.

‘That’s when you know it’s still a big club, when United lose it’s like all the world is just talking about it,’ he added.

‘When they win, when they lose, it’s the same. Even people forget about the other results.

‘Some other teams, I don’t understand why we don’t talk about Brighton, their performance, we talk about United because we lost against Hull.

‘They are against the world. It has to be a win. If we don’t win game over… it’s not even season done, it’s already all this negativity will come again and we’re gonna carry that.

‘Oh my God, I pray. Please, guys. Please, please, people had a good life before the league started, I don’t want to see some heart attacks!’

United have significantly bolstered their midfield options with the addition of Youri Tielemans, Andrey Santos and Carlos Baleba for a combined fee of around £150million this summer.

The Old Trafford giants have also been keen to bring in support and competition for Luke Shaw, with Newcastle and England star Lewis Hall believed to be at the top of the club’s wishlist.

But given Newcastle have made it clear they have no intention of selling Hall, Evra is concerned Carrick is still ‘missing’ a high-quality left-back that he can depend upon on a consistent basis.

‘Before myself, the greatest left-back, for me, of United was Denis Irwin. People say myself but no, Denis Irwin can play both sides, score more goals, he was reliable so that was the pressure I had to carry on,’ he explained.

‘But since I left, I think 20 people have played in my position. We never replaced me. Why? Because of consistency, being fit, playing 90 minutes where he’s the first player the manager puts in the starting XI.

‘That’s what is missing now at Manchester United.

‘You know who was the best left-back since I left United? Ashley Young. He was the most reliable left-back since I left United.’

Evra has taken great pleasure in poking fun Arsenal down the years during the club’s painful 22-year wait for a Premier League title.

But the trolling stopped last season as Mikel Arteta steered the Gunners to the trophy at long last – and the former France international fears it will be more of the same come next May.

‘For me, Arsenal will do the back-to-back titles,’ he said.

‘I’m talking really, honestly. We can joke, we can have fun but for me, they’re going to do the back-to-back.

‘I don’t see why they’re not going to.’

Arsenal got their Premier League title defence off to a perfect start with a comprehensive 3-0 victory over Frank Lampard’s newly promoted Coventry last Friday.

Arteta’s men will look to pick up where they left off against Aston Villa, who were thumped 4-0 away to Brighton in their season opener.

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