Carrick can finally bench Amad by unleashing Man Utd’s brand new Garnacho

Manchester United and Liverpool have been like passing ships in the modern era, rarely ever at their peak at the same time.

Heading into Sunday’s meeting at Old Trafford, it is United sitting pretty in third, already 19 points better off than they were by the end of 2024/25 after finishing 15th in the Premier League table.

For the visitors, meanwhile, there has been a stark decline following last season’s title glory. Having finished 42 points above the Red Devils last time out, they now find themselves three points off Michael Carrick‘s men in fourth.

With Champions League fates almost secure, there is little on the line for either side on paper. And yet, this fixture is never one to overlook, with the usual fireworks set to be expected.

For United too, Monday’s meeting with Brentford wasn’t exactly a perfect performance, with Amad‘s role in the starting lineup seemingly under threat.

Why Amad has taken a step backwards at Man Utd this season

The crowning moment of Amad’s time at United remains his last-gasp winner over the Merseysiders in the FA Cup back in 2024, having latched onto Alejandro Garnacho‘s through ball before sliding home to send Old Trafford into a frenzy.

That had come amid a muted campaign under Erik ten Hag, although the Ivorian was largely the star attraction in 2024/25, alongside Bruno Fernandes, reaching double figures for both goals and assists in all competitions.

The key beneficiary of Ruben Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 set-up, the 23-year-old found a perfect home as an attacking right-wing back, notably striking up a fruitful partnership with Bryan Mbeumo in the early weeks of this season.

Amorim’s eventual exit then coincided with Amad’s time away at AFCON, having not looked the same player since returning from international duty.

In all, he still sits on just two goals and two assists in the league in 2025/26, none of which have come this calendar year, with the former Atalanta man replaced at the break last time out following another muted performance.

At a time when he could well have kicked on in a more advanced role under Carrick, the diminutive winger appears to have regressed, ensuring his place in the starting lineup is no longer guaranteed heading into Sunday’s derby.

How Carrick could replace Amad against Liverpool

The deployment of Amad on the left flank against the Bees didn’t exactly go to plan, with the struggling forward notably squandering a gilt-edged early opening after a fine run from Kobbie Mainoo.

The one-time Sunderland loanee had started in that role in the absence of Matheus Cunha, with it yet to be seen if the Brazilian will be fit to feature again from the start this time around.

With Patrick Dorgu also only just back on the bench, following his recent lay-off, Carrick’s attacking solution could come elsewhere, with Shea Lacey perhaps a wildcard option on either flank.

Not seen in action since his red card against Brighton and Hove Albion in the FA Cup, the teenager has had to overcome his own injury woes in 2026, halting an early bright impact at senior level.

Thrust into the fray by Amorim away at Villa Park back in December, Lacey subsequently sparkled off the bench in the 2-2 draw at Turf Moor, twice coming close to firing in from range.

He’s certainly not short on confidence, while even the disappointing outing against the Seagulls showed signs of life, with United players regularly looking to the 18-year-old to try and conjure up an opening down that right wing.

There very much feels a sense that he can be the next academy sensation to emerge from Carrington, just like Mainoo and Garnacho before him, the latter having initially taken first-team life by storm after prior success in the FA Youth Cup.

It might have all gone sour in the end, but it’s easy to forget just how exciting the Argentine looked when he broke through, memorably netting his first United goal away in San Sebastian, while also scoring a first league goal in stoppage time against Fulham.

There was a fearlessness and a confidence to Garnacho’s game that was so refreshing at that stage, with the brief cameos from Lacey so far having offered similar glimpses.

For all the positivity of Carrick’s tenure, there is a sense that the attacking unit is still waiting to truly click into gear, still reliant on Fernandes to generate chances and take the initiative.

Perhaps it needs the freshness of Lacey to shake things up a bit, with there no better time than a meeting with Liverpool for the young scouser to truly announce himself on the senior stage.