Ruben Amorim’s top Manchester United transfer priority couldn’t be more clear after Sunday’s hard-fought 2-2 draw against Liverpool at Anfield. United defied the odds to earn a surprise Premier League point but returned to M16 with a pressing problem that Amorim must solve in the summer, if not this month.
Not many tipped the Red Devils to avoid another demoralising defeat on Merseyside as Arne Slot’s side ruthlessly steer towards a record-equalling 20th title.
But Lisandro Martinez and Amad’s strikes – on either side of Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah’s – ensured Amorim didn’t taste a fifth consecutive defeat in all competitions.
Amad could’ve and should’ve opened the scoring in the first half rather than finding the net to level the score late on.
The 22-year-old winger misjudged his run and failed to direct Diogo Dalot’s pinpoint cross past Alisson to turn Anfield’s silence into shock.
However, the fluffed opportunity that has sparked more debate was courtesy of Rasmus Hojlund, who blasted a one-on-one chance directly at the Liverpool goalkeeper.
It’s as if a different variant of Hojlund shows up, depending on whether it’s a Premier League or European match.
The 21-year-old has scored 10 goals in 12 Champions League and Europa League appearances since joining United last summer.
But it’s been a contrasting story in the league, and he’s scored just twice in 15 such outings this term.
Hojlund is United’s No. 9 and clearly Amorim’s first-choice option, but he’s not yet good enough for that role.
Describing Joshua Zirkzee’s start to life in Manchester as unconvincing would be an understatement, while Marcus Rashford seems destined for the exit door.
A new left-wing-back is crucial for Amorim to develop the 3-4-3 system he used to dominate Portuguese football with Sporting.
However, the 39-year-old also had an established goalscorer in Lisbon, and he would have the tools to instantly improve United’s results if he had the same at Old Trafford.
Whether Viktor Gyokeres would follow his old boss to Manchester remains to be seen, considering the highly likely possibility of no Champions League football for a second successive season.
But the prolific Swede – who has netted 30 times in 28 games this season – represents the pedigree of striker that United need leading the line.
The Red Devils have relied on potential or experience to provide goals for far too long. That needs to change this year.
Amorim must make a new striker the first signing of his rebuild project.
