Gary Neville: Manchester United have something to build on after Ruben Amorim’s ‘best’ performance against Liverpool | Football news

Gary Neville believes Manchester United now have something to build on after producing their “best performance” under Ruben Amorim to secure a 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Anfield.

United showed plenty of backbone at Liverpool, something Amorim demanded, as they scored their first goals at Anfield since 2018 to earn a point against Premier League leaders Liverpool.

Amad Diallo stabbed home Alejandro Garnacho’s cross 10 minutes from time – adding to Lisandro Martinez’s first goal in two years – to earn a point after conceding a lead to go 2-1 down after a Cody Jacobo and Mohamed Salah penalty kick turned the tide for Arne Slott’s side. .

It was a result and performance that would boost Amorim, who called on the team leaders to step up after five defeats in their first eight matches.

Neville, who said he was shocked by United’s performance, believes his former club could benefit more from a draw at Liverpool than a last-gasp win over Manchester City before Christmas.

“I think it’s the best performance under Ruben Amorim, probably all season by a mile,” Neville said. Sky Sports.

“Coming to Anfield, the best team in the league this year, it goes beyond that win over (Manchester) City last week. City were in a bad moment and the way the game went, they were a little bit lucky to get the win.” .

“I thought United were fantastic from the first minute. They completely deserved (the draw).

“No one expected that (from Manchester United),” Neville added. Gary Neville Podcast.

“I know Liverpool fans will probably say they were maybe a little satisfied with the result, thinking it would be an easy win, but I really thought that if Liverpool played well today then Manchester United are at their current level, and the best I could hope for was a 1-0 defeat.” Or 2-0.

“I thought United were great.

“I don’t say that lightly because I think it’s difficult to play here. Courage and bravery have been questioned, quality has been questioned. I’ve questioned both.

“They showed they had a lot of both in that game, and I was surprised, they really shocked me. I thought they were fantastic from the first minute to the 90th minute against a good Liverpool team, who will always throw a lot of the ball at goal. You.”

On whether this was now a plan for Amorim at Manchester United, Neville said: “I’m sure some people will mention Manchester City, and forget City. City, to be honest with you, was an element of holding on and then just getting a contract.” Two goals in the end, they were amazing.

He added: “This was a performance against the best team in the league at the moment, and that was from the first minute to the 90th minute, until falling behind in the game and coming back, this is a real performance.”

“Amorim has chosen a better team, that being the first team, but he also said: ‘I have never had any time on the training pitch with the players.’ This last week was the first time he had four training sessions with them.” He now has five next week or six next week, so he said he just wants that time.

“Now, I’m not saying everything will be fine, but this was the worst performance of any Manchester United team in a century in terms of league points and things like that, so let’s not exaggerate, but it’s something we have to maintain.” Hang your hat, it’s really something to hang your hat on.”

Neville: The midfield had its best performance of the season

A key part of United’s resolve at Anfield has been the performances of midfield duo Cobi Maino and Manuel Ugarte, along with captain Bruno Fernandes.

Neville praised the trio, noting that they outperformed Liverpool’s midfield of Alexis McAllister, Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones.

“Obviously the team selection should have been a lot different. The team that starts against Newcastle is never going to win a football match, or most football matches in the Premier League, but Ugarte and Maino were not in amazing form in central midfield,” the defender said. Former Manchester United.

“Bruno playing on the left side again, I actually thought that left side against Trent Alexander-Arnold and Salah, I thought that would be a danger for United rather than being a strength as it ended up being, but I thought the way the three took the ball was fantastic.

“I always say that receiving the ball at Anfield as a midfielder is the hardest, especially when you have Gravenberch, Mac Allister and Jones against you, they are all over you. I actually thought those three in Liverpool’s midfield, I think Mac Allister was the best ever.” , but Gravenberch and Jones, it would be difficult to say that they lost, but they certainly found it difficult against Mainoo, Ugarte and Fernandes.

“I thought they were outplayed. I thought United controlled the midfield, which I haven’t seen a lot of Manchester United midfielders do here. It’s really difficult to do at Anfield.”

“Manchester United must support this performance.”

Before kick-off, former United captain Roy Keane pleaded with Manchester United players to show “more passion” against rivals Liverpool.

The players certainly heeded his call, but after the match, Keane said they now had to back up Liverpool’s performance and show some consistency.

“Manchester United came,” Keane said Sky Sports.

“They showed some passion. They did it at Manchester City recently as well.

“The argument in all this is that you can’t just pick and choose when you want to come to a Manchester United match.

“I don’t think anyone was expecting them to score two goals today or come close to scoring at the end. But the important thing is that they have to back it up.”