Liverpool head coach Arne Slot insisted that he wasn't criticizing Ruben Amorim for playing long balls against his side, but Man Utd bosses didn't like his tactics
11:16, 05 Jan 2026
Ruben Amorim looks on prior to what turned out to be his final Premier League game in charge of Manchester United.
Ruben Amorim looks on prior to what turned out to be his final Premier League game in charge of Manchester United.(Image: Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty Images)
Manchester United has fired Ruben Amorim. A lot like when Enzo Maresca left Chelsea only a few days ago, it felt like a matter of when rather than if — even if few saw it coming so soon.
With both teams chasing down a Liverpool team that has been well below par this season, it will be interesting to see how much of a difference the changes make. Liam Rosenior appears set to take over at Stamford Bridge, while U18s coach Darren Fletcher could be at the helm at Old Trafford for the remainder of the campaign.
It is perhaps a sign of how bad Liverpool has been at times this season more than good work from Amorim, but Manchester United did win at Anfield not that long ago — for the first time since 2016.
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And, after that game, Arne Slot explained that his side simply couldn't deal with the long balls and direct style that Amorim deployed in order to get the three points.
"We faced a [United] team that had their game plan very well in order," Slot told TNT Sports. "There was a bit of a debate over what I said after the game, but it was meant to be a compliment.
"They had a low block and played a lot of long balls. I was asked why it was difficult, and that was the reason.
"It wasn't criticism, it was me trying to explain why the game was made difficult. If you win the ball back after they've played it long, there are 11 players behind the ball.
Arne Slot and Ruben Amorim.
Arne Slot and Ruben Amorim.(Image: Naomi Baker/Getty Images)
"I would add that, to a certain extent, I was positive that we created as many chances as we did.
"Against Palace, we were able to create a lot against a low block, the same against United, but not many games since I've been in charge have we been able to create many chances against a 5-4-1."
Whether Slot meant it as a criticism of Manchester United in the heat of the moment or a compliment that Amorim targeted a Liverpool weakness, the Reds boss was right either way.
Indeed, The Athletic reports that part of the reason for Amorim being let go is that the Manchester United hierarchy was unhappy with the style that he was implementing.
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There was "friction", it says, between the head coach and those above him regarding the tactical approach. In recent weeks, Amorim has moved away from his famous three-at-the-back system, despite being previously wedded to it explicitly.
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Amorim was also frustrated by transfer activity, with Manchester United failing to sign Antoine Semenyo, the Bournemouth forward who appears to have chosen a move to Manchester City.
That Amorim decided to move away from his principles suggested that he was under pressure to get results rather than sticking to the process, and that hasn't really worked.
In the last nine games, in a relatively kind run of fixtures, his side has picked up 13 points, allowing Liverpool to overtake.