Reds ready to inflict more misery on reeling Man.Utd

Ruben Amorim admits Manchester United are in a relegation battle and the beleaguered boss will get little sympathy from red-hot Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Manchester City’s hopes of salvaging a dismal season lie with Erling Haaland rediscovering his prolific form, while Chris Wood has emerged as the talisman of Nottingham Forest’s surprise top four challenge.

Amorim’s stunning admission that Manchester United should be concerned about relegation served to underline the huge problems facing the Portuguese coach ahead of a daunting clash with Liverpool on Sunday.

United are languishing in 14th place, only seven points above the relegation zone, after Monday’s dismal 2-0 home defeat against Newcastle.

Amorim has failed to arrest United’s alarming slide since replacing the sacked Erik ten Hag in November.

United finished 2024 by enduring five league losses in a calendar month for the first time since September 1962.

They head to Liverpool on a brutal run of four successive defeats in all competitions and six losses in their last eight games.

With Liverpool six points clear at the top after a blistering run of 23 wins from 27 games in all competitions, United fans would be forgiven for fearing a repeat on their 7-0 humiliation at Anfield in 2023.

Amorim insists he can turn the tide eventually, saying: “I know it will take a lot of hard work from everyone to get there, but I am very excited about where we can go together in 2025.”

But the former Sporting Lisbon boss conceded getting United to adapt to his preferred 3-4-3 system has not been easy.

“Of course I didn’t choose the players specifically for these positions but that I already knew,” he said.

“I have to sell my idea. If I am going to change all the time it is going to be even worse.”

Refreshed Haaland eyes City surge: Erling Haaland believes Manchester City will benefit from a rare six-day break as the new dad returns to action against West Ham on Saturday.

Reeling after the astonishing collapse that torpedoed their title defence, sixth-placed City finally ended a five-game winless run with a 2-0 victory at Leicester in their last game of 2024.

Haaland, who has only scored twice in his last eight appearances, netted to curtail a four-game goal drought in the week he celebrated the birth of his first child.

The Norway striker has been refreshed by the welcome rest and is confident Pep Guardiola’s side can get back on track in the new year.

“It’s always a relief to score. It’s been a difficult time,” said Haaland, whose side are four points adrift of the top four.

“It’s five or six days until the next game, It’s the longest time in a pretty long period, so now we can rest a little bit.”

City’s Premier League title hopes are all but over with the defending champions having left themselves too much ground to make up as they trail leaders Liverpool by 14 points, midfielder Bernardo Silva said.

Guardiola’s team has been hit hard by injuries this season, with Ballon d’Or winner Rodri out for the rest of the season and several players spending lengthy spells on the sidelines.

“Right now it’s about accepting reality. I’m not looking at Liverpool. I’m sixth in the league, I cannot be looking at Liverpool or Arsenal,” Silva told Sky Sports in an interview published on Thursday.

“I’m looking at the next game to try and win three points... I wouldn’t say it’s impossible because in football there are no impossibles but right now Manchester City is completely out of the title race, no question about that, it’s too late for us.

“People say you cannot win the league until January, but you can lose it. This season the reality is that we have lost it.”

Wood-fired Forest chase Euro berth: Chris Wood is thriving on the responsibility of leading Nottingham Forest’s surprise bid to qualify for the Champions League.

The New Zealand striker has already scored 11 league goals this season and will look to add to that tally in Monday’s visit to lowly Wolves.

Wood’s unexpected rise to prominence has been inspired by Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo’s decision base his game-plan around the burly 33-year-old targetman.

Agencies