Manuel Ugarte’s standout performance at Anfield gives Manchester United hope

LONDON – With seconds remaining in Manchester United’s 2-2 thriller against English Premier League leaders Liverpool on Jan 5, Manuel Ugarte launched a stunning reverse pass that sent a ripple of fear around Anfield.

While many will remember United defender Harry Maguire missing a sitter from that attempt, Ugarte’s pass, while running towards his own goal, was the highlight of a terrific performance by the Uruguayan.

It showed why his arrival in Manchester in August was met with so much optimism.

“His quality on the ball, it surprised me a little bit,” former United midfielder Paul Scholes said. “He’s probably done better than I thought he would do.

“He (United manager Ruben Amorim) said before that Ugarte did well for him at Sporting Lisbon, as a really young player as well, so he knows him. This lad is really growing in confidence.

“I thought he took up some great positions, he helped defensively, he helped with the attack and I thought he had the composure to take the ball as well.”

While the draw lifted United to 13th in the standings, still closer to the relegation zone than the European qualifying spots, it felt like a win. The Red Devils finally played with the intensity and fearlessness that Amorim has been calling for since he arrived in mid-November.

The 23-year-old Ugarte has thrived under the Portuguese boss and the Liverpool match was another chance to silence critics who were ruthless with their comments in his early games for United.

The midfielder had 58 touches of the ball against the Reds and an 88 per cent passing accuracy, and went toe-to-toe with Liverpool’s midfield of Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones.

Scholes also credited Amorim’s decision to start Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo in midfield, after Casemiro and Christian Eriksen were brutally exposed in United’s 2-0 loss to Newcastle United six days earlier.

“Personnel makes a big difference, I think the middle of the pitch is the most important area of the pitch, and Monday (against Newcastle) obviously wasn’t right,” he said. “(Against Liverpool) we knew we had half a chance with Ugarte and Mainoo.

“The manager by now should know his players. (The starting XI) has to be his best team.”

United next travel to Arsenal in an FA Cup third-round match on Jan 12.

An overriding message from the Liverpool draw was frustration over why their intensity against their rivals had been woefully absent in previous games, and can they sustain it going forward?

The Gunners, who are second in the Premier League, will be another good test.

“I take more out of that performance than actually winning (2-1) against the champions (Manchester City) in December,” Scholes added.

“I think now that’s a blueprint, that’s the way they have to go forward, they have to follow up now, that’s the standard.” REUTERS