When Liverpool won 3-0 at Old Trafford in September, Manchester United fell to 14th and that is where they still find themselves more than four months later but 23 points behind the Premier League leaders ahead of Sunday’s game at Anfield.
Such has been United’s downfall that they are no longer looking up at European spots but looking over their shoulder at teams below them steadily improving and dragging Ruben Amorim
On his part, Amorim is well aware of the reality facing England’s most successful club that has not won the league since 2013 while their fans look forlornly at rivals Liverpool, who are well on course to equal their record tally of 20 titles.
With a game in hand, Arne Slot’s Liverpool are six points clear of second-placed Arsenal while they have more than double United’s tally with 45 points.
“I think people are tired of excuses at this club. This club needs a shock,” said Amorim, who made the honest admission that United could be involved in a relegation battle.
“When you have these kind of moments in the big clubs, it’s really hard to turn things around, especially when you don’t have a lot of time to train the basics, to cope with the difficult moments. So we have to acknowledge our position.”
Much of United’s struggles are down to ex-manager Erik Ten Hag being unable to turn things around, but Amorim has seen his side lose five of their last six league games
Slot could also become the first Liverpool boss in 88 years to accomplish the league double over United in his debut season which has been near-perfect on the field.
Off the pitch, however, the contract situations of the league’s top scorer Mohamed Salah, captain Virgil van Dijk and Real Madrid-linked Trent Alexander-Arnold have routinely been distractions.
But Slot has batted away any question thrown at him without batting an eyelid while Salah, who has 17 goals and 13 assists this season, continues to set new milestones as he looks ahead to playing his favourite opponent.
