Manchester United have had a disastrous season and a nightmare run of form leading into the clash at Anfield but Ruben Amorim’s men put up a valiant fight against the lead leaders
Manchester United have had a disastrous season and a nightmare run of form leading into the clash at Anfield but Ruben Amorim’s men put up a valiant fight against the lead leaders Manchester United have had a disastrous season and a nightmare run of form leading into the clash at Anfield but Ruben Amorim’s men put up a valiant fight against the lead leaders
Within moments of Michael Oliver getting proceedings underway, Kobbie Mainoo was launching himself at the feet of Ryan Gravenberch, catching a boot flush to the head for his troubles.
And that set the tone for not only the England midfielder’s performance, but for the level of commitment of the majority of his team-mates.
Yes, Manchester United did not win. Yes, this remains a squad that is not fit for truly elite purpose. Yes, Liverpool – with Trent Alexander-Arnold taking the day off – were not anywhere near their best and still managed to avoid a second loss of the season.
Call it clutching at straws, for sure – and it is a reflection of how far United’s stock has plummeted – but, for their supporters, there was serious encouragement in parity at Anfield.
After all, the only time Liverpool led was after VAR had suggested Oliver give a penalty after a deflected cross hit Matthijs de Ligt on a raised hand. And Ruben Amorim’s team – albeit aided by Alexander-Arnold’s abysmal contribution – thoroughly deserved their share of the spoils from an absorbing contest.
They could have been ahead before a Ryan Giggs-style finish from Lisandro Martinez gave them the lead early in the second half and they could easily have stolen a late winner after Amad Diallo had cancelled out Mohamed Salah’s spot-kick, which had followed Cody Gakpo’s fine finish.
The draw means Amorim has won only two of his nine Premier League games, one of those victories being gifted to him by Pep Guardiola’s Manchester City. The draw means United only moved up to 13th by virtue of their goal difference.
The draw means that goal difference remains at a horrid minus five. But this was, arguably, the best United performance of Amorim’s reign.
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And one thing is clear. Amorim must now know that central midfield in the Premier League is no place for old men. For the 70 or so minutes he was on the pitch, Mainoo was excellent in a tenacious, ground-covering way.
And Manuel Ugarte also acquitted himself with distinction. In grim conditions, against opposition of the highest calibre, the approach from Mainoo and Ugarte showed the sort of attitude that Amorim will need if he is to engineer some sort of long-term United revival.
Again, it was only a draw but this was something of a throwback display, not so much in terms of quality, but in terms of determination, in terms of a refusal to be intimidated in an arena that intimidates many. And, for large parts of the game, Amorim got his tactical system right, overloading on Alexander-Arnold’s flank and getting considerable joy down there.
To be fair, he cannot have imagined Alexander-Arnold would have such a stinker. His contract situation – along with those of Salah and Virgil van Dijk – have not REALLY mattered until now.
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It has been an interesting talking point but only a sub-plot to the main storyline of a majestic first half of the season. Arne Slot could smile it away, amusing himself by dead-batting questions about the three contract outliers.
And then, Alexander-Arnold puts in a performance like this one. The pressure on Trent to come clean about his future will now go up a hundred gears in the wake of this showing.
But even after he had been withdrawn late on, United threatened, only for Harry Maguire to put one final, glorious chance into the Anfield Road end. Maguire looked devastated but he should not have been.
Because he was another in this United team who showed the sort of ferocious commitment Amorim will desperately need. For the Portuguese manager, it was only a point … but it was hope.
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