£200,000-a-Week Man Utd Star in Trouble Under Amorim After Liverpool Clash
Ruben Amorim deserves a high amount of praise for his showings in Manchester United’s latest Premier League game.
In their first match back after the international break, Man United recorded back-to-back wins under Amorim for the first time in the Portuguese’s reign. The Red Devils produced a stunning display to beat Liverpool, the defending champions, 2-1 at Anfield.
Man United took an immediate lead through Bryan Mbeumo in the game and it would take almost 80 minutes for Liverpool to find a response. Cody Gakpo levelled the score for the hosts, only for Harry Maguire, minutes later, to thunder a header beyond goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili.
Liverpool have now lost four successive games in all competitions, a first for Arne Slot in his career as a manager. Against their bitter rivals, the Reds hit the post more than once, but struggled to have complete control over the game, ultimately losing in an unexpected result.
Amorim, quite rightly, has received much criticism in his tenure thus far. There was particular pressure after exiting the Carabao Cup to League Two side Grimsby Town, though Sir Jim Ratcliffe would eventually say publicly that the manager continued to have the support of INEOS.
In light of the result against Liverpool, then, it is only fair for Amorim to be praised for achieving such a result. A victory that, in recent years, so few visiting teams have come away from Anfield with.
Cunha Masterstroke, Should Sesko Worry?
Signed in the summer as part of an attacking revamp for Man United, Matheus Cunha began the game at Anfield as his side’s number nine, playing ahead of Mason Mount and Mbeumo who were their attacking midfielders. The Brazilian had an impressive game for multiple reasons.
Not only did Cunha bring an intense work-rate to the frontline, but his presence allowed for fluidity between the front three, making it harder for Liverpool’s defence to manage them if ever Man United fired forward at pace on the counter-attack.
Whilst this could prove a wonderous discovery for the Red Devils, it may lead to questions being asked of Benjamin Sesko’s place in the first team. Another summer signing, on a weekly wage of £200,000, the forward has been amongst the goals for Man United already this season, but their win against Liverpool is, inarguably, their biggest result of the campaign so far.
Amorim may not want to interrupt the consistency of a match-winning team, meaning that Cunha could maintain his place as Man United’s number nine. Should he replicate his displays against Liverpool, then it could mean Sesko is resigned, at least temporarily, to a role as a substitute.