Ruben Amorim must harness Manchester United spirit in bid to avoid another false dawn | OneFootball

First win over Liverpool at Anfield in a decade has to be springboard for brighter days ahead and not latest red herring

A late victory away to one of their fiercest rivals amid the backdrop of a tumultuous run of results - Manchester United have been here before.

Amad Diallo was the hero when United struck in the 90th minute to secure a dramatic 2-1 win away at Manchester City in December last year.

At the time, it was a result that felt like a springboard. Instead, though, Amorim’s side would go on to lose their next three Premier League games.

History repeated itself after they produced another stirring performance away to Liverpool before conspiring to lose three of their next five in the top-flight.

Now, however, after Harry Maguire’s 84th-minute header made it back-to-back league wins for the first time under Amorim, the United boss has to make good on the rare groundswell of optimism around the club.

Amorim, battered and bruised by a torturous 11 months in charge, would not let himself get carried away in the emotion of his side’s victory at Anfield, but did praise their spirit as they fought back to secure a crucial three points.

“I think it was a great win. Not a very well played game from our part, but a great spirit, and that is the only thing I can ask,” Amorim said post-match.

Amorim has to make good on the rare groundswell of optimism around the club

The scenes at full-time were one of a team harmonious and pulling in the same direction. It’s that spirit that Amorim needs to harness.

Doing so comes from promoting consistency and familiarity, starting at the back, where United’s new first-choice goalkeeper, Senne Lammens, appears to be a good fit.

The Belgian kept a clean sheet, United’s first of the season, against Sunderland on his debut, while against Liverpool he stayed alert, claiming balls under pressure before saving well from Alexander Isak in the first half.

Lammens exuded authority in testing conditions, and that confidence extended to the defence in front of him, who clearly felt they could trust the 23-year-old.

United looked secure in the face of mounting Liverpool pressure and maintaining that solidity will be crucial for Amorim to build something tangible at United.

“He showed a lot of character, a lot of quality, and we win also because of Lammens,” Amorim said.

Further up the pitch, strengthening the relationship between Bryan Mbeumo and Amad is important.

The pair have been United’s two brightest attacking players this season, and after linking up to great effect against Sunderland, it took just two minutes for Amad to find Mbeumo to put United into an early lead at Anfield.

Mbeumo and Amad, who Amorim said has the “perfect” profile to play at wing-back, understand each other’s movement, and in a team struggling to forge connections across the pitch, highlighting the relationship they enjoy will make United a far more dangerous outfit.

There are goals in this United team, and having the option to pick between Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha through the middle makes them unpredictable, as Arne Slot alluded to post-match.

Amorim, quite rightly, is not getting ahead of himself, though, and dismissed any talk of a European push.

“I will not now increase the goal,” he said. “What we need to do is try to win three games in a row and then forget about the top four, top six.

“We already said that we need to go to Europe, but this doesn't change anything. We are the same team that we were 90 minutes ago. The way people see the team is different, but we are the same team.

Understanding: Amad Diallo and Bryan Mbeumo combined for Manchester United’s early goal on Merseyside

REUTERS

“So, we have a lot to do. We had some luck in the few moments. We had an amazing spirit.

“We need to take all of that to the next game, so the goal is always the same.”

Managing expectations remains important for United, who are still taking small steps under Amorim.

He knows how quickly the narrative can change, and so keeping that level-headedness and focusing only on how the team can improve week to week is crucial.

Winning any game in the Premier League is difficult, and United can take a lot from their last two victories. But ultimately, it remains just that - two victories, six points, and the promise rather than the certainty of brighter times ahead.

Amorim is attentive, sharp and witty, even while unwelcome records continue to fall around him. He will have learnt lessons from last season’s performances against City and Liverpool. Putting them into practice remains the hardest battle.