Jamie Carragher has publicly corrected Gary Neville after being accused of criticising long throws and set-pieces, insisting that his remarks were misrepresented and that his true point was about the slowing pace of modern football.
The former Liverpool and England defender used last week’s Monday Night Football to analyse the growing influence of long throws as a tactical weapon across the Premier League.
The segment came a day after Liverpool’s defeat to Manchester United, and Carragher highlighted how teams have increasingly relied on throw-ins and set plays to create scoring opportunities.
Neville, speaking days later on The Overlap podcast, suggested that Carragher had expressed a dislike for the use of long throws altogether.
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“Carra said the other night on Monday Night Football... I thought it was really interesting because, to be fair, I disagree with the point,” Neville told co-hosts.
“He said he hates long throws, and somebody else said it yesterday. They hate long throws. I’m like, I love long throws.”
Carragher swiftly responded on social media, accusing his former England teammate of twisting his words.
Jamie Carragher has publicly corrected Gary Neville after being accused of criticising long throws and set-pieces, insisting that his remarks were misrepresented and that his true point was about the slowing pace of modern football
|PA
Writing on X (formerly Twitter), he said: “For the 100th time, I didn’t say I hate set-pieces or long throws!
“What I don’t like is every team taking long throws and the time it’s taking out of the game.
“I totally get teams doing it who struggle and lack quality of getting the ball in the box. I also like seeing how teams cope with them.
Gary Neville won 11 Premier League titles during his career while Jamie Carragher never won one
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For the 💯 time I didn’t say I hate set pieces or long throws!!!!
— Jamie Carragher (@Carra23) October 28, 2025
What I don’t like is every team taking long throws, & the time it’s taking out of the game.
I totally get teams doing it who struggle & lack quality of getting the ball in the box, I also like seeing how teams https://t.co/MLYNmyFbNT
“But teams who have great technical players and have spent £100million on them should be getting the ball in play as quick as they can to get these players on the ball.
“I’m no football snob but this is taking the game backwards!”
Carragher’s clarification reignited the ongoing debate over set-piece tactics in elite football.
Five things to know about the Premier League
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While Neville, along with former internationals Roy Keane and Ian Wright, praised the return of long throws as a legitimate “entry into the box,” Carragher’s stance focused on preserving the rhythm of play and maximising the quality of football on display.
Set-pieces have become increasingly significant in the modern Premier League, with several clubs employing specialist coaches to refine their approach.
Arsenal, Brentford and Liverpool have all reaped rewards from well-rehearsed routines, though Carragher has previously questioned the balance between attacking and defensive execution.
Jamie Carragher took aim at Arsenal coach Nicolas Jover towards the end of last season
| GETTYDuring the closing stages of last season, the Liverpool icon criticised Arsenal’s set-piece coach Nicolas Jover following a draw with Crystal Palace, arguing that the Gunners’ defensive record at dead-ball situations undermined their otherwise strong reputation.
“In terms of percentage, only Manchester United are worse than Arsenal set piece-wise this season,” Carragher said at the time.
“So when we make a big deal about the set-piece coach, he’s absolutely out of this world going forward, but they’ve got a big problem defensively.
“Should we be cutting his wages in half? Do they need a defensive set-piece coach?
“It’s been one of the stories of the season. You feel like they’re going to score a goal from a set-piece in every game, or come very close to scoring.
“Of course, he’s had a huge impact, but it is funny that they’re having huge problems themselves.”