Online Reporter
RUBEN AMORIM masterminded a massive upset on Sunday as Manchester United stunned Liverpool at Anfield.
The Red Devils suffered a disastrous start to their Premier League campaign, and were only just seeming to find their feet as they went into the international break two weeks ago.
There was little hope for their trip to Anfield, a venue at which they had not recorded a win in almost a decade, since Wayne Rooney scored the only goal in an away win in January 2016.
But in the end it was the men from Manchester that emerged victorious, scoring spectacularly at either end of the match to clinch the match 2-1.
Both managers will have much to think about as they look to learn from the chaotic scenes on Sunday…
Amorim’s three correct calls
There were only two changes from Amorim and three of his picks were debatable. Harry Maguire last started in the Brentford debacle three weeks ago, Casemiro had played 90 minutes for Brazil in South Korea and Japan while Matheus Cunha came in for Benjamin Sesko.
Amorim was coy about his rationale for that in his pre-match chat but suggested United did not want to pit Sesko against Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate in aerial duels.
That tactic worked and United ought to have been further ahead at the interval with a fluid front three that was on their toes while Liverpool’s defence were on their heels.
Casemiro had a borderline leisurely 57 minutes before he was booked and immediately substituted, while Maguire was colossal at both ends.
Dropping Leny Yoro deprived United of pace in their backline and Matthijs de Ligt had his feathers ruffled but Maguire, who had never won at Anfield, channelled all of that frustration into another captain-like performance.
He has become a skipper without the armband.
Slot surprised
Arne Slot was still going on about United’s “long ball” tactics at Anfield last season on Friday. Before kick-off on Sunday, he wryly noted the absence of Sesko from the United XI and referred to Ruben Amorim’s “5-3-2”.
Slot shares a few similarities with his predecessor and sour grapes is one of them. Any casual observer of United knows they operate in a 3-4-2-1 and they were anything but defensive as they went 1-0 up inside two minutes.
Slot incorrectly predicted that Mason Mount would start up front for United when it was always going to be Cunha after the team sheets were published.
As disparaging as Slot has been about United’s approach, Amorim has barely acknowledged the comments and United have preferred to do their talking on the pitch.
Removing Sesko from the starting XI worked. United kept the ball on the deck and pecked at Liverpool’s goal so often that they should have gone 2-0 up at Anfield for the first time since March 2015.
Amad winging it
Amad and Bryan Mbeumo showed promise as a duo in their first start in pre-season and they were switched on while Liverpool switched off for the second-minute goal.
One of the issues with Amorim’s system last season is too often he played full backs in the wide roles. That has changed this season, with Amad regularly accommodated as the right winger and it has sharpened United’s attack with two out-and-out attackers down their right-hand side.
Though Amorim can pat himself on the back for bold decisions that made the difference on the day, Slot will be puzzling over his side’s abrupt drop in form, going from five unanswered wins to three straight losses in the league. – Sun
