Ruben Amorim on Sunday said that life at Manchester United has become “too comfortable” as he challenged his players to show the mentality that earned a 2-2 draw at Liverpool on a more regular basis.
Few gave Amorim’s men much hope heading to face the runaway Premier League leaders at Anfield after a four-game losing streak, but the visitors were a side transformed from meek defeats to AFC Bournemouth, Wolverhampton Wanderers and Newcastle United as they scored their first goals away at Liverpool since 2018 and merited a share of the spoils.
“I want to see my team play so much better, but the key today is the mentality,” Amorim said. “I feel that we are, not just the players, but everyone at Manchester United, too comfortable. We need sometimes a shock and you can see today we were a different team.”
Photo: EPA-EFE
United captain Bruno Fernandes said he was “upset” by the fact his side showed what they are capable of against the Premier League’s best, but have consistently underperformed this season.
“Today we were a different team, not because of the system or tactical part of the game. It doesn’t matter who the opponent is, we need to play every day like that,” Amorim said. “Today is all about the focus. The focus on set-pieces, the focus on passing the ball where we cannot lose the ball because in the other part of the pitch is [Mohamed] Salah and [Luis] Diaz. If you have that mentality every day we are a different team.”
Liverpool have a six-point lead at the top of the table with a game in hand over second-placed Arsenal, who were also held to a draw by Brighton & Hove Albion on Saturday, but Arne Slot conceded his side had missed an opportunity to streak further clear and close in on equaling Manchester United’s record tally of 20 English top-flight titles.
Lisandro Martinez smashed United in front early in the second half, but Liverpool rallied to lead through Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah’s penalty, before Amad Diallo leveled.
Harry Maguire should have secured United’s first win at Anfield since 2016 when he skied over with virtually the last kick of the game in a frantic finale.
“Of course it feels for us like two points dropped,” Slot said.
Both United goals originated down Liverpool’s right as Trent Alexander-Arnold suffered a torrid time before being replaced late on by Conor Bradley.
Alexander-Arnold has been linked with a move to Real Madrid, with the European champions reportedly having a bid for the England international turned down last week.
However, Slot dismissed suggestions that the speculation was the source of Alexander-Arnold’s trouble.
“It was clear Trent had some difficult moments, as we had as a team,” the Dutchman said. “What affected him is that he had to play against [Diogo] Dalot and Bruno [Fernandes], and that tells you how much quality United have. That is what United, once in a while, does and it is very difficult to play against them.”
Earlier, Raul Jimenez scored two penalties as Fulham twice came from behind to draw 2-2 with relegation-threatened Ipswich Town at Craven Cottage in London.
Sam Szmodics put the visitors ahead in the 38th minute, with Jimenez leveling from the penalty spot midway through the second half.
Liam Delap restored Ipswich’s lead with another penalty, but Jimenez had the final say in stoppage-time.
The result leaves Ipswich third from bottom of the table after falling agonizingly short of recording two consecutive league wins for the first time this season.
“When you lead twice you always feel a little bit disappointed not to win,” Ipswich Town manager Kieran McKenna told Sky Sports. “I’m so proud of the way we played. We had some chances to get a two-goal margin, but weren’t able to take them.”
Fulham boss Marco Silva praised the performance of Jimenez, who now has eight Premier League goals this season.
“He showed the character and the calmness,” Silva said. “There are many positives I take from the game. In some moments we cannot concede like we did and we have been punished by some mistakes. Everybody can talk about European hopes. I prefer our team to speak on the pitch. If you want to be fighting you have to be much more ruthless and aggressive.”
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