Jamie Carragher believes Jose Mourinho's tactics will cost Manchester United the title... and the statistics back him up

Mourinho was widely criticised in the media and by Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp after his side's defensive display resulted in a dour draw against their great rivals, with United falling two points behind local rivals Manchester City after their 7-2 demolition of Stoke on the same afternoon.

While Carragher defended Mourinho's right to settle for a point at Anfield, he suggested United will not be able to keep pace with City unless they show more ambition away from home against their chief rivals.

"First of all I should say I had no problem whatsoever with what Jose Mourinho did. He's always done it and I expected it before the game," said Sky Sports pundit Carragher.

"Jurgen Klopp said afterwards that Liverpool could never play like that; well maybe his Liverpool could never play like that, but my Liverpool did and we did it plenty of times and got results on the back of it.

"I think the criticism will be saved until the end of the season if results in big away games don't improve and it costs Manchester United the title."

Carragher went on to suggest the great United sides that dominated the Premier League during Alex Ferguson's reign as the club's manager showed more ambition on their travels, as he hinted the Mourinho ethos that worked for him during his two stints as Chelsea manager may be losing its impact.

"His way, of late, is not working," he continued. "Jose Mourinho has always been lauded - and rightly so - as the man for the big occasion, the man in a big game, a 'Mourinho masterclass' winning these games.

"I go back to when United were winning titles and they possibly had six big games - Liverpool home and away, Arsenal home and away and someone else challenging, whether it was Chelsea or Newcastle.

"That's 18 points. With the top six now that's 30 points. That's a big part of the season. You've got 10 games home and away. If that doesn't improve they won't win the league and that's when the criticism will come.

"I won't criticise him for the way he played at Anfield because you can still win a game playing like that, but if those results continue I think it will be very difficult to win the title.

"Manchester City have already got six points out six in the head-to-heads with Liverpool and Chelsea.

"Manchester United have had one game and one point against Liverpool and it's a good result for Manchester United, not a bad result.

"But somewhere along the line he's got to pick up these points. If he doesn't, and City continue in the head-to-heads, that's where the criticism will come that he's been too negative."