Amorim must unleash Man Utd’s “wizard” who could be the next Juan Mata
Fortunately, 2024 is done. Even with an unexpected FA Cup victory in the midst, few calendar years have been as
dismal for Manchester United supporters.
After their worst-ever Premier League season, the Red Devils are determined to break that record in the midst of
their utterly awful 2024–25 campaign, which has seen Ruben Amorim’s team rightfully linger in the bottom half of
the standings.
With six losses in just 11 games under the new manager, United hasn’t even experienced the usual “bounce”
following a change in the dugout. This record is expected to worsen even more before Sunday’s trip to Merseyside to
play league leaders Liverpool.
Without a win at Anfield since the days of Louis van Gaal back in 2016, having failed to even score in any of their last
five trips to face their rivals, the omens do not bode well for this struggling bunch.
And yet, this is a new year, time to turn over a new leaf. What better way would there be to begin 2025 than by
halting Arne Slot’s side and their seemingly unstoppable title procession.
| Man Utd’s recent record at Anfield (all comps) | ||
|---|---|---|
| Date | Result | Goalscorers |
| 17 Dec 2023 | 0-0 (D) | N/A |
| 05 March 2023 | 7-0 (L) | Gakpo (x2), Salah (x2), Nunez(x2), Firmino |
| 19 April 2022 | 4-0 (L) | Salah (x2) Diaz, Mane |
| 17 Jan 2021 | 0-0 (D) | N/A |
| 19 Jan 2020 | 2-0 (L) | Van Dijk, Salah |
| 16 Dec 2018 | 3-1 (L) | Mane, Shaqiri (x2); Lingard |
| 14 Oct 2017 | 0-0 (D) | N/A |
| 17 Oct 2016 | 0-0 (D) | N/A |
| 10 March 2016 | 2-0 (L) | Sturridge, Firmino |
| 17 Jan 2016 | 0-1 (W) | Rooney |
| 22 March 2015 | 1-2 (W) | Sturridge; Mata (x2) |
| Results via 11vs11 | ||
They’ve already upset the odds away at the Etihad, so why can’t Amorim’s men do it again on Sunday? All they need is to look to the past, to conjure up a little Juan Mata-esque magic…
Juan Mata’s Anfield heroics
Signed from rivals Chelsea on a £37.1m deal in January 2014, the World Cup-winning Spaniard never quite hit the
heights in a United shirt that he showcased at Stamford Bridge, having remarkably chalked up 86 goals and assists in
just 135 games in west London, while winning the Champions League to boot.
During his time at Old Trafford, he was far too frequently moved out into the right side. It seems that a succession of
managers never capitalised on the playmaker’s abilities, since few players in the post-Sir Alex Ferguson period had
that degree of elegance and sophistication. that capacity for making something from nothing.
Even though it wasn’t seen frequently enough, Mata had his moments, none more so than that spectacular day in
March 2015 when Van Gaal’s team easily defeated their most formidable opponents 2-1.
With former manager Brendan Rodgers still reeling from the loss of Luis Suarez and the title collapse, this wasn’t a
team to be feared, but winning at Anfield, which is now uncommon, is never something to be feared.
At the centre of that victory was the diminutive Mata, with the one-time Valencia star putting the visitors ahead with
a rare right-footed finish in the first half, having been played in beautifully by compatriot, Ander Herrera.
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