Man Utd’s new Martial must not start again this season

Since Michael Carrick became Manchester United manager, they have officially been the best team in the entire Premier League.

Yes, that’s how good a job Carrick has done after being given the role on an interim basis. Following their 3-2 win over Liverpool, a game they nearly blew after being two goals to the good, United have amassed 32 points in 14 games since matchweek 22.

No team has more points in that period of time. Arsenal, a team United have defeated during Carrick’s reign, are the second best on 27. He is mastering the big games, in particular. Not only have the Red Devils beaten Liverpool and Arsenal, but his first game in charge saw them beat Manchester City.

It’s a stunning turnaround at Old Trafford, one that has now seen United secure Champions League qualification. The help that could provide in trying to entice their top targets to the club over the summer cannot be underestimated.

So, what helped them get there on Sunday afternoon?

How Manchester United swept Liverpool aside

The tale of the tape coming into this one could not have been more different. Carrick has enjoyed a phenomenal period at United but Arne Slot has endured a tough ride of it at Anfield.

Indeed, after just 14 minutes, it looked like it was getting even worse for Slot’s side.

The hosts were 2-0 up and motoring courtesy of Matheus Cunha and Benjamin Sesko. Cunha’s deflected effort gave them a priceless lead after just six minutes before Sesko, perhaps fortuitously, doubled their advantage.

This one was controversial. Bruno Fernandes swung in a ball that Freddie Woodman parried into the path of the big Slovenian. The ball appeared to slightly touch his hand and find the net but VAR adjudged there to be no problem. The goal was given and United were in dreamland.

The first half performance was utterly brilliant from the home team; they were all over Liverpool. Yet, something changed in the second half.

Bruno and Co had run a mock of the Liverpool team in the first half but it all went wrong within the space of 11 quick minutes after the break.

Thankfully, they had Kobbie Mainoo to call upon late on, who, after two calamitous Liverpool goals, rescued things with a vital winner.

What went wrong for Manchester United

It hasn’t happened very often under Carrick but United’s second-half collapse brought back memories of the Ruben Amorim era.

The way in which United conceded both of their goals was pitiful. For the first, Amad gave away possession all too easily but the defending from that moment onwards wasn’t great. Dominik Szoboszlai picked up the ball, ran through the heart of the United side and then coolly slotted the ball past Senne Lammens.

The goalkeeper didn’t cover himself in glory for the second either. Once again it was a cheap concession of the ball and once again, it landed at the feet of Szoboszlai.

This time, the Hungarian did not find the net himself. Instead, he slid it into the path of Cody Gakpo who could not miss from a matter of yards out. It was a calamitous state of affairs.

At the centre of that poor second half was Amad. Subbed on for Sesko at the break, it was from that moment that things started to go wrong.

The Ivorian was not just poor in giving away the ball for Liverpool to get back into the game but a lot of his attacking play was also left wanting.

During his time on the field, he didn’t have a single shot and didn’t perform a dribble either. What’s more, he had just 14 touches of the ball in 45 minutes, fewer than even Lammens in the United net managed (36).

What summed up his performance was a moment late in the game. Amad darted towards the Liverpool penalty area but instead of taking on a shot himself, played the ball into the path of Diogo Dalot who hit an effort horribly off target. On reflection, the United winger should have taken the shot on himself.

That, however, just about summed up the winger’s lack of confidence right now. Last term, he looked like the best player in United colours. While not many came out of the Amorim era with their reputation intact, Amad’s had definitely improved.

Yet, since Carrick came back, he has really struggled. He looks like another Anthony Martial, truth be told. Like the Frenchman, he looks like he should have had the world at his feet. He’s fleet-footed, a real maverick in possession of the ball. Yet, he struggles with his end product and looks like a shadow of the player who made such impressive strides during the previous regime.

Like Martial, he arrived at the club as a relative unknown but it simply isn’t happening for him right now despite being billed as the next best thing. Simply, he is now a player who needs to be upgraded on. He has scored just twice all season and has not found the net once since Carrick entered the building.

Bryan Mbeumo may not be in the best of form himself either, but Amad simply cannot afford to start another game this season. United may well have little to play for after securing Champions League football next term but that does not matter as far as the Ivorian’s minutes are concerned.