Amorim admits he could still be dismissed, with the next 4 matches determining the fate of the season! The game against Liverpool might not be the most crucial.

Ruben Amorim may be looking forward optimistically to Manchester United’s first Premier League match this weekend. United face four important games ahead, starting with an away match against Liverpool. However, the BBC reports that this game might not be the most decisive; the subsequent matches will ultimately define United’s season, for better or worse.

Before the international break, Manchester United secured a 2-0 home win over Sunderland, delivering one of Amorim’s best performances as manager. This result eased the pressure on the 40-year-old Portuguese coach. Subsequently, club owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe publicly pledged to give Amorim three years to prove his worth, comparing his situation to that of Ferguson and Arteta, who also took time to achieve success.

However, just because great managers took time to prove themselves doesn’t guarantee that a coach will succeed if given enough time. Amorim understands that unless the team shows clear progress in performance and results, Ratcliffe’s promises are merely words without binding power, and firing the coach the next day would still be entirely legal. The match against Liverpool has historically been a “death sentence” for post-Ferguson managers at United.

Speaking at the pre-match press conference before the Liverpool game, Amorim said: “Sir Jim sometimes messages me after matches, but you all know, and Sir Jim and I both understand, that football doesn’t work that way. The most important thing is the next game. Whether the owner supports me or not, we can’t control what happens the next day. Of course, hearing such words is reassuring, and Omar Belada and Jason Willcox have also been telling me the same.”

The Manchester United manager added: “Firstly, I do feel the pressure—not just because others say it, but I genuinely feel it. Sometimes, the pressure I put on myself and the whole team is enormous. I know it takes time to fix this. Hearing such comments is great; I believe it helps our fans understand that the management knows winning requires time. At the same time, I don’t like this situation because I don’t want negativity to spread within the club. The team must prove that every week we have what it takes to win.”

The victory over Sunderland lifted Manchester United to 10th place on the table, marking only the second time this season the team finished a round in the top half. Amorim is about to complete one year in charge, with only 10 wins in 34 Premier League matches and no consecutive league victories yet.

British media see this as Manchester United’s best chance in a decade to win away at Liverpool. A win on Sunday would undoubtedly boost morale inside and outside the club. However, even a loss might not severely impact Amorim’s position, as long as the scoreline isn’t too harsh. Since 2016, United have not won at Anfield, and their goals there can be counted on one hand.

The real impact on Amorim’s job might come from the upcoming fixtures: home against Brighton, then away matches versus Nottingham Forest and Tottenham. Good results and sufficient points in these games could give United a chance to return to competing for European qualification.

It is reported that both the Manchester United board and dressing room view securing a European spot as a set target for this season, which would demonstrate the team’s progress.

However, matches against Brighton, Forest, and Tottenham are no easy task, as United lost all corresponding games in the past two seasons. They lost at home to Brighton and away at Forest and Tottenham, with all three defeats last season occurring under Amorim’s management.

Interestingly, the away match against Liverpool in January was the only game among a potential 12 points where Amorim’s side managed to earn points. United drew 2-2 and even had a chance to win if Maguire had scored in stoppage time.

Amorim commented at the time: “It’s very clear that when we focus, fight for every ball, endure huge pressure, and battle until exhausted, we are a good team. If we can’t maintain that level, we will lose matches.”

But two weeks later, when United hosted Brighton, goalkeeper André Onana and his teammates made repeated errors, resulting in a 1-3 defeat that allowed the Seagulls to complete a hat-trick of wins at Old Trafford.

After the match, Amorim was at a loss: “In the last 10 Premier League games, we’ve only won twice. Imagine what that means for the fans and for me. The new coach has lost more than the predecessor; I fully understand that this might be the worst Manchester United team in history.”

On April 1st, Fool’s Day, United lost 0-1 at City Ground to Nottingham Forest, marking the second consecutive season losing away to Forest. Adding insult to injury, Elanga, a former player offloaded by Ten Hag for £15 million, ran 50 yards to score the winning goal.

Last season, United suffered four defeats to Tottenham, with the most damaging being the Europa League final loss. Yet the 0-1 away defeat in February was also humiliating, marking the first league double over United by Spurs since 1989/90. Amorim was defiant: “What’s the difference between the two sides? Tottenham scored; we didn’t!”

Amorim hopes things will be much better this time and that he can remain confident during next month’s international break. “I remember the last time we visited Liverpool; we played very well and ended with a draw. I was very disappointed after the match because we could have won that day,” he said. “But that was just one game, and we still need to prove that our performance has improved. I believe Manchester United has indeed progressed, but every aspect of the game needs to be better. So this is another match we must win.”