While it was accepted that Ruben Amorim would take time to oversee an improvement at Old Trafford, few foreshadowed the Portuguese manager admitting that Manchester United are in a relegation battle just two months after taking the job.
A fourth straight defeat in their final outing of 2024 means the Red Devils are 14th in the Premier League table and seven points clear of the relegation zone.
His performance Monday night at his Defeat 2-0 at home to Newcastle it didn’t point to a team capable of staging any sort of resurgence anytime soon. However, things could have gone differently for the hosts had Amorim opted to deploy a 64-year-old midfield pivot against the in-form Premier League engine room.
Perhaps the new manager will take comfort in knowing his side at least competed in the final hour against the Magpies, but there is still a sense that things could get worse for the Red Devils before they get better.
A busy January is on the horizon with United involved in three competitions. Here’s an overview of their next five games.
This is what the doctor ordered…
A daunting trip to the league leaders calls for the fragile Amorim team, with Liverpool going into their first meeting of 2025 in unbridled fashion. The Reds have a good lead at the top of the division and have been scoring goals at a relentless pace of late.
They have beaten Tottenham by six and West Ham by five in two of their previous three outings. Arne Slot’s side have lost just once in the league all season and will be intent on taking on their arch-rivals on Sunday.
Liverpool won the reverse fixture at Old Trafford 3-0 while Erik ten Hag was still in town, and United have not tasted victory at Anfield since January 2016.
United struggled to get a glove on arsenal when the two sides met in north London on 4 December, but a relatively solid defensive display was undermined by their inability to contain the Gunners from set pieces. Jurrien Timber and William Saliba were on the scoresheet in a 2-0 win.
The once fierce rivals meet again in the third round of the FA Cup. With United exiting the Carabao Cup in December and mid-table from their Premier League ceiling, this competition is of undoubted importance for Amorim this term. They are, of course, the headliners, and will surely face a rotating Gunners side at the Emirates.
However, they could have done with an easier draw.
After visiting two of the toughest grounds in the country, United are offered some respite by taking on Southampton at Old Trafford.
The Saints are the last inhabitants of the division, but they face a slightly tougher team with the disciplinarian Ivan Juric at the helm. The new manager’s reign has started with two narrow defeats, but there are reasons for optimism.
A potential banana peel for United in this sort of form.
Joao Pedro scored late on to give Brighton a memorable 2-1 win in the reverse fixture at the start of the season. That triumph came amid a supreme opening for the Seagulls, but Fabian Hurzeler’s side have struggled to win games of late.
Their last win came on November 23 – even United have won games (four, to be precise) since then – but they have performed well without much reward. Brighton’s performances in their draws to conclude 2024 point towards a team capable of going on a run in the new year. They should also be healthier by the time this fixture returns.
Man Utd’s third consecutive home game comes in the Europa League against British opposition. Amorim oversaw wins over Bodo/Glimt and Viktoria Plzen at the start of his tenure to leave United in the top eight of the league stage standings.
However, they will be usurped if they are beaten by Rangers at Old Trafford. It will be only the fifth competitive meeting between the two clubs.
The Scots are just one place and one point behind United in the table after drawing with Tottenham at Ibrox in their previous outing. This is the penultimate matchday of the opening phase, and United will want to avoid playing two extra games in their bid to reach the last 16.
