If you are going to walk through a storm anywhere, Manchester United will have particularly loved doing it at Anfield, and in a blizzard as well.
Everyone expected United to be blown away, fortunately, they had the sure-footed Ruben Amorim to guide them through.
RexAmorim will be disappointed his United side failed to claim all three points at Anfield[/caption]
Amorim is 40 in three weeks and new life begins at United. He got the mood right, the tactics right and his in-game changes right.
The ex-Sporting Lisbon boss showed why he is the right man for a job that ultimately proved beyond David Moyes, Louis van Gaal, Jose Mourinho, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer, Louis van Gaal, Ralf Rangnick and Erik ten Hag.
They managed 623 games between them at United and the team never progressed. Amorim has brought hope after 11 games.
In the 12 years since Sir Alex Ferguson retired, United fans have seen storms clearing before, and new dawns appearing before, only for dark clouds to hurry back.
So nobody at United will get carried away by one outstanding performance. Amorim was angered that his players had not raised their game in other games against lesser opponents.
Sunday’s show in the 2-2 draw cannot be a one-off; that level of sustained commitment and adherence to a game-plan has to be repeated every game.
But 100 compelling minutes highlighted what United’s players can do after their first full week’s training under Amorim.
They now enjoy the luxury of another week at Carrington absorbing further Amorim’s philosophy and in-game demands.
This game showed he has got to know his players better.
The disastrous selection of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen against Newcastle’s powerhouse midfield last Monday will not be repeated.
GettyLisandro Martinez fired United ahead in the second before Liverpool mounted a comeback[/caption]
GettyA late equaliser from Amad Diallo in Merseyside earned the Red Devils a share of the spoils[/caption]
Against Liverpool’s vaunted midfield trio, Amorim turned to Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo, all athleticism, mobility and aggression, and the control of Bruno Fernandes.
All three responded superbly, especially Ugarte and Fernandes.
Amorim’s pre-match words had been picked over and lambasted, especially his questioning of his players’ characters.
He’d called on the leaders in the team to show themselves. And they responded.
Fernandes, Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez all did. United’s strong personalities shone through.
They didn’t take umbrage at Amorim’s words because they clearly respect him and his methods.
Amorim will have risen even higher in their estimation because his game-plan worked.
He targeted Trent Alexander-Arnold, who was exposed by Diogo Dalot’s directness at left wing-back.
Liverpool’s right-sided centre-back, Ibrahima Konate, was unable to give Alexander-Arnold more support as Rasmus Hojlund deliberately occupied him.
Amorim set a trap and Liverpool fell into it. Fifty-four percent of United attacks came down that flank. So did both goals.
Even with the frustration of falling behind to goals from Cody Gakpo and Mo Salah after taking the lead through Martinez, Amorim stayed positive.
United fans loved this. It’s a reminder of their DNA – fearless and going on the front foot.
Moments after Salah gave Liverpool a 70th minute lead, Amorim sent on Alejandro Garnacho for Mainoo, attacker for midfielder.
Amorim’s bold. He continued to target Alexander-Arnold, now with Dalot and Garnacho troubling him.
It was bizarre that a manager as shrewd and aware as Arne Slot waited until the 84th minute to withdraw Alexander-Arnold.
Only Alexander-Arnold will know whether he was distracted by all the Real Madrid talk, but what is beyond conjecture is that this was one of the worst of his 334 games for Liverpool.
He can’t allow a repeat or Conor Bradley needs to come in. Alexander-Arnold will know he can play so much better.
Garnacho ran at Liverpool’s vulnerable right-back again, and crossed for Amad Diallo’s equaliser. Even after pulling level, Amorim kept attacking, much to the delight of the visiting fans.
Not content with a point, they went hunting for three. Maguire fired over in Fergie-time, and would surely have made truer contact had Joshua Zirkzee’s cross been cleaner.
This was more the United of old.
Attack, attack, attack to the death, even looking to a centre-back for late hope as Steve Bruce did with those towering headers against Sheffield Wednesday 32 years ago. That tipped the title balance United’s way back then.
United are far, far away from challenging for the title. They are 13th. They are in a rebuild. But they have a good architect in charge. Amorim’s decisive.
Matthijs de Ligt was struggling so Lenny Yoro came on, and put in one magnificent sliding challenge on Darwin Nunez. Yoro has been eased back after injury, but now could provide the ball-playing qualities Amorim wants to see more of in his back-three.
Anfield will also curtail criticism of Amorim’s insistence on rebuilding in 3-4-2-1 fashion; the system will be even stronger and more effective when he’s had more time on the training field and more investment in the transfer window.
Amorim still needs a more clinical centre-forward and a left wing-back (with Dalot switching right).
He still needs to balance PSR requirements by generating funds with outgoings. Amorim’s clearly ushering Marcus Rashford and Antony, probably Tyrell Malacia as well, towards the exit.
Casemiro and Eriksen should be thanked and also allowed to leave. United will lose money, but the club’s co-owners, Ineos, has to back its man’s judgement in the transfer window.
Because that judgement is clearly very, very good. The way Amorim marched through a storm showed that.
