Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim will hope to improve his side’s results in fixtures against Liverpool, Brighton, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham after a poor return last year
Ruben Amorim has come through the international break, but now faces a crucial series of matches in his Manchester United career. The Portuguese boss has been under pressure this term as the club attempt to bounce back from last season’s 15th-place finish.
A win over Sunderland last time out provided the Red Devils coach with some breathing space, and United now sit 10th in the Premier League after recording three wins from their opening seven matches. It remains a far cry from the Red Devils’ ambitions of the past that centred around challenging at the very top.
Sir Jim Ratcliffe has preached patience over Amorim’s future despite an uncertain start. The United co-owner believes success can be earned through a long-term plan and pointed towards a rival’s progress in recent years.
Ratcliffe said: “Yes. That is where I would be. Three years. Because football is not overnight. It’s three years. You also look at [Mikel] Arteta at Arsenal. He had a miserable time over the first couple of years.
“We have to be patient. We have a long-term plan. It isn’t a light switch. You can’t run a club like Manchester United on knee-jerk reactions to some journalist who goes off on one every week.”
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That vote of confidence could yet mean little if United’s upcoming games follow the same pattern as last year. Amorim will prepare his team to face Liverpool, Brighton, Nottingham Forest and Tottenham, a set of games he gained just a single point from.
Liverpool lie in wait first at Anfield. United earned a draw in the fixture last season and even took the lead through Lisandro Martinez before Amad earned a point against their rivals.
That was one of the better displays of the entire Amorim era and hinted at the long-term success the Portuguese boss could achieve.
The results were less convincing against the other sides, though. A 3-1 defeat to the Seagulls in January sparked Amorim’s assertion that “We are the worst team maybe in the history of Manchester United”.
Away matches against Forest and Spurs saw a pair of 1-0 defeats, with ex-United ace Anthony Elanga rubbing salt in the wounds when he scored at the City Ground. Tottenham, meanwhile, defeated United four times last season, including in the Europa League final.
Improving upon those four results will hand the team a big boost before the next international break. And with defensive injury issues for a Liverpool side coming off the back of three defeats, there could be few better opportunities to cause an upset.
A repeat of just one point from four games would see Amorim on 11 points from 11 matches. They had 15 points from their opening 11 outings when the former Sporting CP coach arrived at the club in November 2024.
His predecessor Erik ten Hag was sacked after nine matches, having picked up 11 of those 15 points in their opening nine matches.
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Sky Sports discounted Premier League and EFL package
Sky has slashed the price of its Essential TV and Sky Sports bundle ahead of the 2025/26 season, saving members £336 and offering more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more.
Sky will show at least 215 live Premier League games next season, an increase of up to 100 more.
