After brief respite, Man United manager Ruben Amorim set for Anfield cauldron
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Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim is still seeking back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON – Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim would have enjoyed some relative calm during the international break after backing from club co-owner Jim Ratcliffe
Ratcliffe suggested that the under-pressure Amorim should be given the full three years of his contract to turn around United's fortunes despite scant evidence so far suggesting the Portuguese is up to the task.
Victory against the out-of-form reigning champions would mean back-to-back Premier League wins for the first time since Amorim took over nearly a year ago.
A meltdown in the Anfield cauldron, however, would call into question the faith of Ratcliffe who appointed Amorim but who has been rewarded with only 10 wins in 34 Premier League games.
Ratcliffe claimed Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta had a similarly bad start before turning them into consistent title contenders -- a comparison that raised eyebrows.
"I understand the sentiment -- but if you go through the facts, I don't think it's the right person to draw a comparison with," former United defender Rio Ferdinand said on his podcast Rio Ferdinand Presents.
"With Amorim, you look at him and there isn't as much consistency or positives that are coming out of it. I just want to see some consistency of results coming through."
Amorim was backed heavily in the summer and while there have been signs of an improvement, they are 10th in the table and still struggling to gain any momentum.
While new signings Bryan Mbeumo and Benjamin Sesko have slotted in well, Matheus Cunha is yet to make the impact that was expected after his arrival from Wolverhampton Wanderers and he is yet to score or assist in the Premier League.
"I'm trying as much as possible to adapt, to learn... It's only been two months, but it feels like I've been here for a long time because of the club's current situation," Cunha said while on international duty with Brazil.
In other matches, Ange Postecoglou does not appear to be over-concerned about his position at Nottingham Forest despite a winless start to his reign at the City Ground.
The club, just one place above the relegation zone, host Chelsea in the early kick-off on Saturday.
It is a rapid fall from grace for Forest, who finished seventh last season.
Postecoglou said he relished a challenge after his team’s 2-0 defeat at Newcastle on October 5, just days after home fans at the City Ground called for his sacking.
“I’ve fought for things my whole life, so it’s just another fight that I love to be in the middle of,” he said.
Time will tell whether the international break will help Postecoglou or has merely delayed the inevitable, with former Burnley and Everton manager Sean Dyche reportedly in the frame to replace him.
Elsewhere, Antoine Semenyo is arguably the most in-form player in the Premier League, the main man in a Bournemouth team who are flying high.
The Ghana winger has scored six times and provided three assists in the league for Andoni Iraola’s side, who are fourth in the table after their best start to a Premier League campaign.
Semenyo has been involved in nearly 82 per cent of his team’s goals – by far the highest proportion for any player in the league.
“He is incredible,” said teammate Justin Kluivert. “He shows it every game now. He is just world-class.”
Bournemouth face a tough challenge against a Crystal Palace team determined to prove a point after the end of their 19-match unbeaten run across all competitions.
Arsenal are away at Fulham on Saturday, Manchester City host Everton, while Tottenham Hotspur welcome Aston Villa on Sunday. REUTERS, AFP
