Carrick: Focus Turns To Liverpool Clash

Michael Carrick felt Manchester United were unfortunate to lose to West Bromwich Albion on Sunday, but feels the Reds must quickly focus on the Europa League clash with Liverpool.

Louis van Gaal's men fell to a narrow 1-0 Barclays Premier League defeat at The Hawthorns as Salomon Rondon's second-half strike inflicted United's first loss in five games with the hosts' only clear-cut opportunity.

Speaking to MUTV and Sky Sports after the match, Carrick felt United were unlucky to come away with nothing after managing the early sending-off of Juan Mata reasonably well, but insists the team's attentions must now be on Thursday's trip to Anfield for the last-16, first-leg encounter.

The captain said: "We are very disappointed. All things considered, we weren't brilliant, but we were pretty comfortable for most of it and they weren't causing us many problems.

"It is a setback but there are some massive games around the corner. Things were looking good this week; we were on the up, everyone was so positive. This is a blow for us but we need to get back, ready for Thursday."

Mata was dismissed after picking up two quickfire yellow cards midway through the first half, but Carrick felt the Reds comfortably dealt with West Brom's extra man.

"It changes the game but I thought we dealt with it quite well," continued the midfielder. "To play so long with 10 men is difficult and it's more difficult because we have one less man in attack on the break, especially with Juan. We were comfortable, but they have taken their chance."

United's positive start to the second period came from the belief the visitors could go on and win the game, despite playing for over an hour with 10 men.

"In the second half, I thought we could go on and win it. That's what we believed at half-time and that's how it looked like it would pan out at the start of the second half," Carrick said.

"They filled the edge of the box with their big lads and, with a man down, it's difficult to get men into the box. I thought Anthony [Martial] did well and at times looked threatening but we couldn't quite take that chance to get us back in the game.

"They have had one chance, one proper shot, taken it and scored and that's where the game was won. So we are sitting here with nothing now."

The defeat left United in sixth, three points behind fourth-placed Manchester City, having played a game more, but Carrick insists there is still the opportunity to pull back the points needed for a top-four spot.

"There is still a lot to play for, there are going to be twists and turns and we have a lot of the teams around us to play, so that will tell its own story come the end of the season," he added.