Man Utd proved Ruben Amorim right at Liverpool. (Image: Getty)
The build-up to trip to on Sunday mirrored that of the days leading up to glory against in May. You’d have done well to find a single soul on the planet who truly believed ‘s crisis clan would rock up to Anfield and give the runaway league leaders a game.
But the visitors surprised spectators with their first-half approach, producing a well-drilled performance to frustrate ‘s rampant side. The 2-2 draw that followed could’ve easily been an away win, and no one would’ve contested that outcome.
United, who started the day 14th in the table, would’ve entered half-time with the lead if Amorim had inherited a competent attack from in November.
routinely had the better of the early chances and crafted two promising openings, which Cody Gakpo and Alexis Mac Allister couldn’t convert.
Then, the Red Devils went through the gears to threaten Alisson’s goal themselves. First, Amad misjudged his run and failed to convert Diogo Dalot’s pinpoint cross from close range.
Shortly after, was sent clean through but could only fire his effort directly at the goalkeeper.
It was a common sight from a striker with just two goals all season and only emphasised one of Amorim’s top transfer priorities at the end of the campaign.
However, understandable frustration was drowned out by optimism at the interval, for United’s players had proven their head coach precisely right.
Man Utd produced a top first-half performance at Liverpool. (Image: Getty)
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Amorim entered the hot seat at a nightmare moment. He picked up an already low-on-confidence squad and faced games every few days with limited time on the training pitch.
After Monday’s 2-0 defeat against United, his side’s fourth in a row and sixth in his 11 games in charge, Amorim confirmed he had only taken four sessions with his entire group since his November arrival.
But while trips to and amid a historically dreadful run of results were daunting prospects, he pointed out that one positive was to come from it.
After the turn of the year, the hectic fixture winter schedule eased, albeit with the help of United’s Carabao Cup exit at .
Amorim expressed his delight that he was to have whole weeks with his players on the Carrington pitches rather than the odd day.
And the results were immediately clear at Anfield in the form of a noticeable drop in players looking towards the bench for guidance.
There was an evident boost in tactical understanding amongst Amorim’s players and an absence of the confusion that had contributed to his early woes.
Amad’s late strike rescued a well-deserved point after Cody Gakpo and cancelled out Lisandro Martinez’s opener. Amorim may feel like one point should’ve been three.
Regardless, United will rightly return to Manchester with a rare glimpse of hope for the coming weeks and months.