Murphy tells Ten Hag to stop 'whining and winging' about Eriksen injury and Carroll tackle

The Dutchman called for more protection of 'the best players' after the Dane was sidelined until April at the earliest after being forced out of the Red Devils' FA Cup fourth round win over Reading.

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Eriksen hobbled off and was ruled out for three months after a nasty scissor-tackle from Reading striker Andy Carroll.

Ten Hag later accused Carroll of dangerous play and questioned the protection of players from referees after the frontman escaped a booking for the challenge - although he was later sent off with two yellow cards for two more bad tackles in the match.

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United's official club statement about Eriksen's injury blow also made specific reference to Carroll, suggesting anger towards the former Liverpool man from club chiefs, with Eriksen's injury forcing them into the transfer market as they signed Marcel Sabitzer from Bayern Munich on deadline day as cover in midfield.

But it was Ten Hag's comments, talking about previous examples of opposition players not being punished for fouls on his men, that struck a nerve with ex-Anfield star Murphy.

The talkSPORT pundit also added his reaction is not bias against Manchester United and he would give the same advice to Jurgen Klopp - and has in the past.

He told White and Jordan: "It sounds like he's just winging, whining. You're in the Premier League!

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"Andy Carroll got sent off, by the way, but for a different challenge, he should have got sent off for that one.

"But the point is, let's give this perspective, we are in a world now where creative attacking players are protected more than ever, more than ever!

"Very rarely do we see bad injuries from bad tackles, very rare, not many, and I think we're in a good place because of that. I'm not saying we should go back to the old days where players can knock seven bells out of each other.

"I just don't see why you would come out and winged about it when it's just a consequence of playing football.

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"He's lost Eriksen and he's disappointed and we don't want to see bad tackles… but he is winging, because then he starts bringing up the elbow on Martinez!

"I don't mind him saying, 'I'm disappointed with the tackle, it was naughty, Carroll should have been sent off, it was a bad, and I'm disappointed for Eriksen, but it's football, it happens, that's why we have a big squad and we've got to get on with it'.

"He's working at Manchester United, be positive! 'We've got other players, we will cope' - don't pull up a list of, how many was he going to say? An elbow on Martinez at Palace? I saw it, it was next to nothing! Why are you bringing that up? Come on! It's football in the Premier League!

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"And it's not just because it's Ten Hag, I would say the same about Jurgen Klopp. I've sat here and talked about Klopp whining and I've said exactly the same. It's not a Man United thing.

"Ten Hag has surpassed all expectations. He's done a brilliant job, he's got so much right, but winging? Any manager who stands there and starts winging about players getting an elbow last week against Palace?

"I don't like it. There's no conspiracy here."