- Chelsea sacked Potter after a dismal stint
- Amorim struggling to make his mark at Man Utd
- Carragher issues warning before Liverpool clash
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In his column for The Telegraph, Carragher noted the striking similarities between Amorim’s early struggles at United and Potter’s brief tenure at Chelsea. Potter was appointed in September 2022 to succeed Thomas Tuchel, but his time at Stamford Bridge was plagued by inconsistency. Chelsea managed just 12 wins under Potter while suffering 11 defeats, leading to his dismissal.
Getty ImagesAmorim, who took over from Erik ten Hag in November, has endured a similarly torrid spell. After an initial wave of optimism, United’s form has plummeted. December was particularly bruising, with Premier League losses to Arsenal, Nottingham Forest, Bournemouth, Wolves and Newcastle. These defeats have left the Red Devils languishing in 14th place in the league.
Carragher expressed his concerns about Amorim’s tenure, stating that the manager’s arrival was expected to inspire a revival akin to Jurgen Klopp’s transformative impact at Liverpool. However, the reality has been far less promising.
"A big worry as United head to Anfield is that Amorim’s arrival was supposed to echo Jurgen Klopp’s at Liverpool, both in terms of the point of the season at which he took over, and the galvanising impact on players and supporters," the Liverpool legend wrote.
"Currently, Amorim’s reign has more in common with Graham Potter’s brief spell at Chelsea, where a deteriorating situation was made worse. Five defeats for United in the past six league games is horrendous. Even the last win, against Manchester City, was due to a freakish finale rather than an excellent 90-minute performance. Before rushing to the conclusion it will end the same way for Amorim as for Potter, there are some key differences between Potter’s performance at Chelsea and the situation at United."
United’s recent performances have sunk to historic lows. The club has not lost five league matches in a single calendar month since 1962, making December a grim period for the fans. Additionally, the Carabao Cup exit to Tottenham marked six defeats in all competitions, a nadir not witnessed since September 1930. Moreover, Amorim has also become the first United manager in over a century to lose five of his first eight Premier League games, an ignominious statistic that highlights the magnitude of the crisis.
GettyUnited’s struggles have left Amorim with little room for error as the team prepares for a high-stakes clash against Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday. Facing their arch-rivals, United will be desperate to avoid further embarrassment and begin clawing their way back up the Premier League table.