Zlatan Ibrahimovic, Paul Pogba Discussed by Jamie Carragher in Manchester Derby

Zlatan Ibrahimovic's first-half performance in Manchester United's 1-0 EFL Cup win over Manchester City on Wednesday was arguably the worst 45 minutes of his career, according to Liverpool legend and Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher. 

The former centre-back also slammed Paul Pogba's first-half showing but was particularly critical of Ibrahimovic's performance as he was largely ineffective before the break at Old Trafford, per Sky Sports (via MailOnline's Ben Nagle):

"

I don't think Zlatan Ibrahimovic has probably had a worse 45 minutes than that in his career. He's getting wound up by them [City]. 

Jose Mourinho has been getting a lot of stick in the last few weeks, the manager always does, but we're talking about a fella last season who got 50 goals.

"

Both the former Sweden international and United as a whole picked up after half-time, and the 35-year-old striker eventually set Juan Mata up for his 54th-minute winner.

However, Ibrahimovic was still far from his best and, having netted four times in his first four Premier League appearances for United, he has now scored just once in his last nine games in all competitions, per WhoScored.com.

In a disjointed first-half performance from the home side on Wednesday, the former Paris Saint-Germain star lacked his usual swagger and nothing he attempted came off.

He lost the ball regularly and one attempt to put Marcus Rashford through on goal encapsulated his below-par performance, per AFP's Tom Williams:

Ibra was not the only player below his best, though, as both City and United combined for a fairly abysmal first half.

United manager Mourinho had undoubtedly put out the stronger team, though Pep Guardiola's City side was hardly short on quality, but neither outfit managed to carve out a genuine opportunity before the break.

Matthew Ashton - AMA/Getty Images

Pogba continued to underwhelm, as he has done regularly since his £89 million summer return to United from Juventus.

Carragher accused both the Frenchman and Ibrahimovic of failing to make an impact against a weakened City side, per Sky Sports (via Nagle):

"

[Paul] Pogba [is] the most expensive player in the world. If you've cost that much money you've got to decide big games and do things in the big games. 

It's non-existent and they're not playing Man City at home… they're playing Man City reserves. Let's be honest about it. 

The game's there for Manchester United to win and those two players have been non-existent in these last few weeks and they've got to produce a far lot more.

"

Pogba also was better in the second half and was denied the opener when Willy Caballero excellently tipped his shot onto the post—he had been put through on goal by Ibrahimovic.

There is little doubt, though, that Mourinho will want to see a marked improvement overall from both his star players when United face Burnley in the Premier League on Saturday.