Ruben Amorim secured the biggest win of his Man Utd tenure against Liverpool but it cannot be a false dawn.
Steven is a senior writer and covers Manchester United for the Manchester Evening News. You can follow Steven on Twitter at @StevenRailston.
“I want you guys to continue with the narrative that you are so I will not increase the goal,” said Ruben Amorim following Manchester United’s win against Liverpool.
“What we need to do is try to win three games in a row and then forget about top four top six we already said we want to go to Europe. This doesn’t change nothing, we are the same team we were 90 minutes ago.”
Amorim was asked whether United are “through the storm” and said: “I have no idea. If we show the spirit we show every day I think we are going to win so many games, but for that we need to show action.”
It certainly feels like the clouds above Old Trafford have lifted after a superb win against the Premier League champions in their back yard, but Liverpool must be the turning point.
United are just two points adrift of the top four and suddenly the outcry after Brentford looks like an overreaction. Amorim might be able to turn the Reds around after a rollercoaster start to the season.
United have refused to do anything the easy way throughout Amorim’s tenure, so it felt appropriate that he claimed successive wins in the Premier League for the first time against Liverpool.
The Liverpool game was a resounding success for Amorim for different reasons. He claimed successive league victories, made decisive team selection decisions and won the tactical battle against Arne Slot.
The decision to revert to a striker-less attacking line was brave and it paid off in spades. Amorim placed his faith in Bryan Mbeumo, Mason Mount and Matheus Cunha and the trio rewarded his judgement.
Nobody would have blamed Amorim for naming Amad on the bench in favour of picking more defensive minded wing-backs on both sides, but the 23-year-old was unplayable at times in the first half.
There had been teething problems with Mbeumo and Amad down the right but the pieces beautifully came together at Anfield.
The pair combined like a double act on the West End in London. They linked up ruthlessly to open the scoring within two minutes and continued to dance down the right side.
The decision to recall Harry Maguire at the expense of Leny Yoro was a genuine masterstroke, with Maguire rising highest in the 84th minute to score a brilliantly headed matchwinner.
Amorim explained that Maguire was starting because of his “experience” in big games and his ability to deal with crosses. He must have forgotten the 32-year-old has a goal or two in his armoury.
Casemiro performed like a wily old fox and it was a big decision to start him, considering he played 90 minutes twice for Brazil in South Korea and Japan during a lengthy international break trek.
United’s boss said he picked his team based on his “gut” – he should listen to his instincts more often.
Amorim must use the Liverpool win as a springboard to further success. It cannot be a false dawn, a dreaded two words which have been trotted out under various different United managers down the years.
United have no European football this season, something that can be spun as a positive or a problem.
“It’s difficult sometimes when you only have one game a week because there’s a lot of time to think,” Mount admitted after the victory against Sunderland before the break.
“After a game like Brentford, we’re hurt. As a team, as a staff, because we know we can do better. It really hurts us, obviously, as a club as well. It feels like a long time until the next game.”
United will welcome Brighton to Old Trafford on Saturday and the evening kick-off slot should help the team make a fast start – the atmosphere tends to be better under floodlights.
Nottingham Forest come next – they have sacked two managers this season – and a trip to Tottenham follows. United could be in the Champions League places by the time the November international break begins.
That will only be possible if the Liverpool victory is not a false dawn.
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