Ruben Amorim pinpointed Joshua Zirkzee and Jonny Evans as two Manchester United players who need to improve after Sunday’s underwhelming 1-1 draw against Ipswich Town.

United were held in Amorim’s first match in charge at Portman Road as they struggled to adapt to the new head coach’s demands.

Marcus Rashford got the Portuguese tactician’s reign off to a perfect start by poking Amad’s cross home after just 80 seconds.

But Omari Hutchinson profited from his long-range strike deflecting off Noussair Mazraoui’s head, putting it out of Andre Onana’s reach and equalising before half time.

United flattered to deceive in the second half, emphasising the magnitude of the challenge Amorim faces after replacing Erik ten Hag in the dugout.

After full-time, he insisted that switching to his trademark 3-4-3 system wasn’t the primary issue, instead claiming his players’ decision-making has to improve.

“Decision-making is a concern; you don’t need to coach them [that] at this level,” Amorim explained on Sky Sports.

“You have to keep the ball and know the momentum to put the ball in front. Sometimes you feel that you can’t keep the ball and you have to put the ball in front.

“Then you have [situations] like at the end of the game [when] we were around the box with two strikers. Josh [Zirkzee] has to understand that he has to go to the box to help the crosses.

“So we are doing some things that were not at the right moments, which we have to address. The 3-4-3 is not the concern; the understanding of the game is what we have to improve.”

Zirkzee wasn’t the only player named in Amorim’s post-match assessment as he lamented his side’s pressing. The 39-year-old also pinpointed Evans’ failure to track Hutchinson.

“If you see the first half, you can see that they [United] were a little bit afraid. [Morsy] was always alone. We have to jump on him,” Amorim added.

“Hutchinson was always in the dead space; Jonny Evans should be pressing his guy, but when we don’t have the training.

Sunday’s match against Ipswich Town was a special fixture for more than just the fact that it was Ruben Amorim’s first game – it also marked Casemiro’s 100th appearance for the Reds.

Signed from Real Madrid in the summer of 2022, our no.18 has played a key role in Carabao Cup and FA Cup successes, as well as scoring countless important goals for the Reds.

With a proven pedigree that speaks for itself, Casemiro has been a lynchpin for United ever since his arrival and continues to be a key member of the team, starting for new head coach Amorim in his inuagural match in the Reds dugout.

In 100 games in a United shirt, Casemiro has scored 15 times, with perhaps the most important of these being his unstoppable header that set us on the way to defeating Newcastle United in the 2023 Carabao Cup final.

The Brazilian made his debut in our away win at Southampton in 2022, scoring his first United goal two months later as he rose high at the back post to grab a late equaliser away to Chelsea. The wild celebrations that header prompted live long in the memory.

The five-time Champions League winner has tasted success with the Reds in 58 of his century of games, drawing 18.

A defensive-minded midfielder with an eye for goal, Case found the net on seven occasions in 2022/23, following that up with another five finishes last term. This season, so far, our no.18 has notched on three occasions – including that recent screamer against Leicester in the Carabao Cup.

Adaptable as ever, the Brazilian icon showed once again on Sunday why some of the biggest managers in world football continue to rely upon him, starting at the heart of midfield but this time as part of Amorim’s new-look three-at-the-back formation.

A consistent presence with real quality and a tireless work rate, we congratulate Casemiro on reaching yet another impressive landmark in his decorated career.

Arne Slot‘s side had squandered the lead given to them by Dominik Szoboszlai‘s second goal this season as Adam Armstrong levelled before the break at St Mary’s.

Mateus Fernandes put bottom of the table Southampton ahead after the interval before Salah sparred Liverpool’s blushes.

Salah coolly netted the equaliser and then held his nerve to stroke home the late penalty that gave him 12 goals in all competitions this season and six in his last five league appearances.

Thanks to Salah’s late heroics, Liverpool have left second placed Manchester City trailing in their wake after the champions’ dismal 4-0 defeat against Tottenham on Saturday.

Slot has made a remarkable start to his time in charge of the Reds, winning 16 of his first 18 games in all competitions.

The former Feyenoord manager’s deft touch has established Liverpool as favourites for a first Premier League title since 2020 in his maiden season at Anfield after replacing Jurgen Klopp.

Liverpool were below their best against Southampton but the gritty victory was the ideal start to a pivotal period.

The Reds host Real Madrid in the Champions League on Wednesday, before Manchester City head to Anfield next weekend.

Liverpool have won 10 of their first 12 league matches, with only two previous teams in the competition’s history failing to lift the title after reaching that mark.

On a wet and windy afternoon on the south-coast, Liverpool threatened to blow Southampton away as Salah unleashed a curling effort that forced Alex McCarthy into a sprawling save.

Salah volleyed over from Andrew Robertson’s cross and went close again moments later, taking a touch at the far post before drilling a low strike that McCarthy repelled at full-stretch.

Szoboszlai was next to test the over-worked McCarthy with a long-range blast, before Cody Gakpo almost beat the Southampton keeper from the edge of the area.

Salah to the rescue
Southampton manager Russell Martin has been criticised for sticking to his philosophy of playing out from the back despite some costly mistakes from his defenders.

Once again, Martin’s men were punished for taking an unnecessary risk in their own area as Liverpool took the lead in the 30th minute.

McCarthy needlessly rolled the ball to Fernandes, who was immediately put under pressure by Curtis Jones, prompting a panicked clearance from Flynn Downes.

Szoboszlai seized on the miscued pass and slotted a composed finish past McCarthy from 18 yards.

Out-played for much of the half, Southampton snatched a controversial equaliser in the 42nd minute.

Virgil van Dijk carelessly conceded possession to Tyler Dibling and Robertson responded by tripping the winger on the edge of the area.

Referee Sam Barrott pointed to the spot even though the foul appeared to have taken place just outside the box, with VAR supporting his decision.

Armstrong’s penalty was saved by Caoimhin Kelleher, but the Southampton forward reacted quickest to smash the rebound past the Liverpool keeper.

Liverpool had lost their momentum and they were hit with a sucker punch in the 56th minute.

Dibling started the devastating break with a superb long pass that Armstrong surging towards the Liverpool area, where he checked back and found the unmarked Fernandes, who guided an inch-perfect shot past Kelleher.

But Salah hauled Liverpool level nine minutes later after another McCarthy howler.

Salah’s well-timed run beat the Southampton offside trap and McCarthy’s ill-judged decision to race off his line allowed the Egyptian to meet Ryan Gravenberch’s pass with a predatory finish.

Liverpool could scent victory and they were handed the points with seven minutes left.

Yukinari Sugawara blocked Salah’s cross with his arm and the Egyptian stepped up to drive the penalty past McCarthy before whipping off his shirt in a delirious celebration.

AFP