Ruben Amorim insists Manchester United’s new mentality is key in 2-2 draw, but Fernandes demands consistency

Manchester United’s 2-2 draw at Liverpool was hailed as a much-needed improvement by head coach Ruben Amorim, who credited the team’s mentality for the resilience shown in the Premier League clash. Despite the disappointment of missing a win in the dying moments, Amorim was pleased with the character shown by his side, ending a four-match losing streak across all competitions.

Amad Diallo salvaged a draw for United, equalising in the 80th minute after Mohamed Salah and Darwin Núñez had put Liverpool ahead. The draw denied the Premier League leaders the chance to extend their lead at the top of the table, leaving them just five points ahead of Arsenal. Despite Harry Maguire missing a last-gasp opportunity to snatch a win, Amorim was full of praise for the team’s collective spirit.

“The most important thing to address today is the mentality. That is the key for everything,” Amorim said after the match. “Today, we were a different team—not because of the system or technical aspects, but because we faced the competition the way we should, every day, both in training and matches.”

United’s captain, Bruno Fernandes, who earned the man-of-the-match award for his dynamic performance, expressed mixed feelings after the match. While acknowledging the solid result, Fernandes was clearly frustrated with United’s inconsistent performances throughout the season.

“We could have won the game at the end, but we can’t be satisfied. If we show this against Liverpool, why can’t we do this every week?” Fernandes said, pointing out the disparity between United’s potential and their erratic form. “We need to put more pride into our performances. It isn’t enough for us.”

Amorim fully supported his captain’s frustration. “It’s a very good sign,” he remarked. “It’s really clear. We lost three games in a row at home, suffering two goals without doing anything. Today, I’m upset, really upset. But I am also pleased with the performance. Everyone can say they did a good job, but I’m allowed to be the only one upset today.”

While United were celebrating their newfound mentality, Liverpool boss Arne Slot commented on Trent Alexander-Arnold’s performance, which came under scrutiny after being linked with a move to Real Madrid. Despite being linked with a rejected bid from Madrid, Slot insisted the rumours had no impact on Alexander-Arnold’s performance, which was below his usual standards.

“I think nine out of 10 people will say it affected him, but I’m one of the 10 that tells you it didn’t,” said Slot. “It was the quality of United’s play, not the rumours, that affected him. Playing against Bruno Fernandes and Diogo Dalot was far more challenging for Trent than anything off the pitch.”

For Liverpool, the 2-2 result felt like two points dropped, as Slot acknowledged the difficulty of dealing with an opponent like United, who are capable of pressuring with intensity. “It was difficult to control a team that puts every ball into your last line,” Slot said, referring to United’s quick counters and aerial threat.

For Manchester United, Amorim’s challenge now is to harness the positive shift in mentality and produce that level of performance on a more consistent basis. With critical matches ahead, the pressure to maintain this resilience will only intensify.