‘Do we have to go?’ – Gary Neville’s Anfield fear speaks volumes as damning Man United stat emerges
Manchester United’s tough run of fixtures continues this weekend as they travel to take on table toppers, Liverpool. As the clock ticks down to this monumental clash, one unsettling statistic looms over. Amorim start to life at Man United hasn’t been easyGetty The Red Devils have not found the back of the net at Anfield since that disheartening 3-1 defeat in December 2018. Their last win at Anfield was nine years ago in January 2016 when Wayne Rooney scored the game’s only goal. Here, talkSPORT.com looks at Man United’s chances as they head to Anfield. Man United fans are worried Well, Gary Neville certainly is and the Old Trafford legend shared his fear for his former club after United lost 2-0 at home to Newcastle on Monday night. This was their fourth consecutive loss under new manager Ruben Amorim who arrived in November 2024. “Do we have to go to Anfield on Sunday?” he joked. He then had a laugh about a possible excuse his former side could make in order to not play. “Do you remember in the old days when Sunday League teams wouldn’t turn up because they said the traffic was bad or a few players were unwell? “Obviously, joking aside, I’ve no idea how they approach this game on Sunday. Manchester United have found this fixture very tough in recent years. “The 7-0, I was there watching it to the bitter end like many Manchester United fans were. “You’re fearing not necessarily of that, but you’re wondering what Ruben Amorim can do? Neville is ‘fearful’ ahead of SundayAmazon Prime Video “He can point to the Manchester City performance, but I genuinely don’t know.” How have other teams faired? Going to Anfield is hard enough these days, with Manchester City struggling there, having suffered a 2-0 defeat at the start of December. Liverpool clocked up 18 shots on target, whereas City’s slump continued with just eight shots on target. Mohamed Salah played 84 minutes that game and scored one goal, provided one assist and had three total shots on target. If that’s against the former Premier League champions, who have won six times under current manager Pep Guardiola, then it’s understandable as to why Neville and United fans would be concerned. They will be hoping the Egyptian King has a rare off day. It could be an easy day at the office for Mo Salah on Sunday Amorim faces a starting XI headache Neville also highlighted how two attacking were not used against Newcastle and urged Amorim to bring them back in to help hurt Arne Slot’s high-flying Reds. “Some players may come back,” he said. “Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford haven’t been showing the application in training… but they are better than the players out on the pitch currently. “They’ve got legs and if Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold are lining up against Zirkzee or Bruno Fernandes in wide areas, they would probably prefer that to Garnacho and Rashford. “That will be difficult for Amorim as he wants to set a new culture and standard in the dressing room of what’s right. “He’s not liked some of the things he’s seen in the past month or so but right now, it’s needs-must and it’s desperate.” Will Marcus Rashford feature? Rashford has predominately struggled this season, with just four goals, one assist and twelve starts this season. Slow numbers compared to his 17 goals in 35 games in the 2022/23 campaign. His woes continue off the pitch too, with the Man United forward facing an uncertain future at Old Trafford. Last month he revealed he is ‘ready for a new challenge,’ likely away from United. talkSPORT understands that the club are open to offers regarding Rashford, with club chiefs feeling as though a parting of the ways is the best solution for all parties. A reunion with Scott McTominay who is playing in Italy has been rumoured. The 27-year-old had been left out of four consecutive matchday squads by Ruben Amorim before being recalled to the bench for the recent 2-0 defeat to Newcastle. Rashford hasn’t been himself this season Rashford started for Man United the last time they faced Liverpool on September 1st 2024. The game was a Liverpool masterclass, with the away side winning 3-0 at Old Trafford. With this in mind and all the outside noise going on around Rashford, Amorim may decide to leave him out of such a big fixture. What is going on with Ruben Amorim? Last week the manager admitted his position at the Theatre of Dreams is far from secure after a difficult start to life in England. The 39-year-old has so far struggled to replicate his success at Sporting Lisbon, where he won two league titles, at Old Trafford. As people say, the Premier League is one of the hardest leagues in the world, and Amorim admitted himself the weight of the task ahead is not lost on him. “I know the business that I’m in,” he said. “The ma
Manchester United’s tough run of fixtures continues this weekend as they travel to take on table toppers, Liverpool.
As the clock ticks down to this monumental clash, one unsettling statistic looms over.
The Red Devils have not found the back of the net at Anfield since that disheartening 3-1 defeat in December 2018.
Their last win at Anfield was nine years ago in January 2016 when Wayne Rooney scored the game’s only goal.
Here, talkSPORT.com looks at Man United’s chances as they head to Anfield.
Man United fans are worried
Well, Gary Neville certainly is and the Old Trafford legend shared his fear for his former club after United lost 2-0 at home to Newcastle on Monday night.
This was their fourth consecutive loss under new manager Ruben Amorim who arrived in November 2024.
“Do we have to go to Anfield on Sunday?” he joked.
He then had a laugh about a possible excuse his former side could make in order to not play. “Do you remember in the old days when Sunday League teams wouldn’t turn up because they said the traffic was bad or a few players were unwell?
“Obviously, joking aside, I’ve no idea how they approach this game on Sunday. Manchester United have found this fixture very tough in recent years.
“The 7-0, I was there watching it to the bitter end like many Manchester United fans were.
“You’re fearing not necessarily of that, but you’re wondering what Ruben Amorim can do?
“He can point to the Manchester City performance, but I genuinely don’t know.”
How have other teams faired?
Going to Anfield is hard enough these days, with Manchester City struggling there, having suffered a 2-0 defeat at the start of December.
Liverpool clocked up 18 shots on target, whereas City’s slump continued with just eight shots on target.
Mohamed Salah played 84 minutes that game and scored one goal, provided one assist and had three total shots on target.
If that’s against the former Premier League champions, who have won six times under current manager Pep Guardiola, then it’s understandable as to why Neville and United fans would be concerned.
They will be hoping the Egyptian King has a rare off day.
Amorim faces a starting XI headache
Neville also highlighted how two attacking were not used against Newcastle and urged Amorim to bring them back in to help hurt Arne Slot’s high-flying Reds.
“Some players may come back,” he said.
“Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford haven’t been showing the application in training… but they are better than the players out on the pitch currently.
“They’ve got legs and if Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold are lining up against Zirkzee or Bruno Fernandes in wide areas, they would probably prefer that to Garnacho and Rashford.
“That will be difficult for Amorim as he wants to set a new culture and standard in the dressing room of what’s right.
“He’s not liked some of the things he’s seen in the past month or so but right now, it’s needs-must and it’s desperate.”
Will Marcus Rashford feature?
Rashford has predominately struggled this season, with just four goals, one assist and twelve starts this season.
Slow numbers compared to his 17 goals in 35 games in the 2022/23 campaign.
His woes continue off the pitch too, with the Man United forward facing an uncertain future at Old Trafford.
Last month he revealed he is ‘ready for a new challenge,’ likely away from United.
talkSPORT understands that the club are open to offers regarding Rashford, with club chiefs feeling as though a parting of the ways is the best solution for all parties.
A reunion with Scott McTominay who is playing in Italy has been rumoured.
The 27-year-old had been left out of four consecutive matchday squads by Ruben Amorim before being recalled to the bench for the recent 2-0 defeat to Newcastle.
Rashford started for Man United the last time they faced Liverpool on September 1st 2024.
The game was a Liverpool masterclass, with the away side winning 3-0 at Old Trafford.
With this in mind and all the outside noise going on around Rashford, Amorim may decide to leave him out of such a big fixture.
What is going on with Ruben Amorim?
Last week the manager admitted his position at the Theatre of Dreams is far from secure after a difficult start to life in England.
The 39-year-old has so far struggled to replicate his success at Sporting Lisbon, where he won two league titles, at Old Trafford.
As people say, the Premier League is one of the hardest leagues in the world, and Amorim admitted himself the weight of the task ahead is not lost on him.
“I know the business that I’m in,” he said. “The manager of Manchester United can never, no matter what, be comfortable.
“I know that if we don’t win, regardless, if they pay the buyout or not, I know that every manager is in danger. I like that because that is the job, so I understand the question.
“You can argue that I have been here one month and I’ve had four training [sessions], but we are not winning. That is the reality and I’m quite comfortable with that.”
Ruben Amorim stats as Man United manager
- Days in charge – 53
- Games played – 11
- Wins – 4
- Losses – 6
- Draws – 1
Neville also spoke about Amorim’s position: “United are only seven points off the relegation zone.
“They play Liverpool and then Arsenal away so it’s a really tough moment.
“It’s a young manager who has come over and needs time to settle in, but when results are this bad, it piles on the pressure and Anfield is an unforgiving place to go.
“It’s the worst place at the best of times. The form they’re in is out of this world. I have some fear for Sunday.”
Man United’s fate on Sunday is entirely in their hands and, as Neville perfectly put it, ‘Anfield is an unforgiving place to go’ – they may be begging the fans for forgiveness by Sunday tea time.
Prediction
talkSPORT’s Andy Goldstein and Darren Bent discussed Man United’s drop to 14th in the league ahead of their Liverpool clash.
Goldstein, a Man United fan, acknowledged Liverpool are the best team in the land right now.
“This is at Anfield. It wasn’t that long ago we lost 7-0, I don’t want to sound all doom and gloom.”
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