Manchester United

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Ruben Amorim is not going to part ways with his distinctive style of play but now it is about which of the current players are best suited for it.

It is clear that some aren't but where do you start?

If they can move Marcus Rashford on then that is a start.

United definitely need a number nine, to me that one is obvious. Joshua Zirkzee doesn't have the attributes to fit Amorim's style and it is the same for Rasmus Hojlund because he doesn't seem to be adapting very well.

The most linked striker to United is Viktor Gyokeres because he has played with Amorim at Sporting Lisbon and I do think they have to try and buy him.

When Amorim left Sporting he said he wouldn't poach him in January out of respect but maybe he will re-assess that given how much United have struggled since he joined.

They also need to look at midfield and in this window and the summer get rid of some of the deadwood for fresh players. The likes of Casemiro and Christian Eriksen should go.

Kobbie Mainoo's performances need to improve because he is not at the heights of what he was last year before the Euros, but he probably needs more experience around him as he is still very young. I think we all forget that.

If Bruno Fernandes is going to be their creative player then he needs security behind him to allow him to be more free. That leads into their defence which also needs to be looked at.

They have triggered the extension of Harry Maguire's contract and they have Jonny Evans, but at his age he is probably not what they need anymore as Maguire has the experience.

In the summer I would imagine they look for another well-established centre-back.

Fara Williams was speaking to BBC Sport's Katie Stafford

Ivory Coast winger Amad Diallo, 22, has agreed terms on a new contract with Manchester United. (ESPN, external)

Kobbie Mainoo, 19, and Alejandro Garnacho, 20, both still have a future at the club, despite concerns about breaching profit and sustainability (PSR) rules. (Sky Sports, external)

Meanwhile, United need to make a sale to finance a 60m euros (£50m) move for Portugal and Paris St-Germain defender Nuno Mendes, 22. (Independent, external)

Manchester United are aware the representatives of Marcus Rashford, 27, are in talks with AC Milan. (Sky Sports, external)

Elsewhere, Portugal striker Cristiano Ronaldo wants to reunite with former United team-mate Casemiro, 32, and has urged Al-Nassr to move for the Brazil midfielder. (Mirror, external)

Finally, Brazil winger Antony, 24, has rejected the chance to join Greek club Olympiakos but still wants to leave the club. (Mirror, external)

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Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Joshua Zirkzee is committed to Manchester United and intends to remain at the club for the rest of the season.

The striker has struggled to adapt to life at Old Trafford following his £36.5m summer move from Bologna, scoring just four goals.

United fans cheered when he was substituted during the first half of the home defeat by Newcastle on 30 December - though the reaction was condemned and Zirkzee was given a positive reception when he was introduced into Sunday's draw at Liverpool.

Juventus football director Cristiano Giuntoli did not reject the idea of a move for Zirkzee when he spoke to media in Saudi Arabia last week, although he admitted there had been no contact with United.

However, sources say Zirkzee's mindset is centred around remaining at United this month and club officials believe that is the most likely outcome.

Borussia Dortmund and Juventus have joined AC Milan in weighing up a move for Manchester United's out-of-favour English forward Marcus Rashford, 27. (Sky Sports, external)

Chelsea are leading the race to sign 19-year-old England midfielder Kobbie Mainoo, whose contract talks with Manchester United have reached a stalemate. (Mail, external)

Mainoo, who is under contract until 2027, is unhappy with United's initial offer. (Manchester Evening News, external)

Meanwhile, United are willing to listen to serious offers for any of their players, including Mainoo, 20-year-old Argentina winger Alejandro Garnacho and Denmark forward Rasmus Hojlund, 21. (Guardian, external)

In terms of incomings, United want to sign Hungary left-back Milos Kerkez but Bournemouth's £40m asking price for the 22-year-old could be a stumbling block. (Teamtalk, external)

Finally, Ruben Amorim's side are among a host of clubs considering a loan move for Paris St-Germain's 26-year-old France striker Randal Kolo Muani. (Telegraph - subscription, external)

Want more transfer stories? Read Wednesday's full gossip column

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BBC chief football writer Phil McNulty has been answering your questions.

Alex asked: When Erik ten Hag was in charge, Manchester United fans clamoured for an identifiable style of play. Now they have one under Ruben Amorim, I see complaints that he is stubborn in sticking to his preferred system without the right players. What do they want? And what should they go for?

Phil answered: Well, the system worked well at Liverpool on Sunday. This was Manchester United's best performance under Amorim.

It is clear he has his favoured formation and is sticking to it, while you had no idea what sort of team United were, or what identity they had, under Ten Hag.

I'm not convinced Amorim currently has the players to make the best of his three central defenders strategy, but Sunday will have at least given him and his players belief he has something to build on.

The summer will see him making serious inroads into getting the players to fit his system.

Let's not be fooled by that excellent point at Liverpool, though. Amorim has got a huge job on his hands to make United anything like serious challengers. But at least he has a clear idea.

Alex Turk
Fan writer

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Manchester United are unbeaten in 2025! That is a sentence I was not expecting to start my first entry of the year with after Sunday's trip to Liverpool.

The sentiment as United descended on Anfield - amid a storm of sleet and snow - mirrored that of May's FA Cup final.

You would do well to find a single soul on this planet that expected Ruben Amorim's stumbling side to avoid defeat against Arne Slot's rampant Reds.

Yet, while United did not replicate their shock triumph over Manchester City at Wembley, the performance and result was just as much of a welcome surprise.

Amad Diallo's latest decisive moment in a huge game earned a more-than-deserved point, but it could and perhaps should have been an even bigger scalp.

The 22-year-old winger squandered a glorious opportunity in the first half, misjudging his run on to Diogo Dalot's pinpoint cross.

But the more noticeable missed chance came courtesy of Rasmus Hojlund, who fluffed a one-on-one with Alisson moments later.

Hojlund had the far corner at his mercy but fired his effort directly at the Liverpool goalkeeper, keeping his Premier League goal tally this season at two.

And - not to put a negative spin on a very commendable result - but there lies the problem. United have relied on potential or experience to provide goals for too long.

I like Hojlund. The 21-year-old Dane undoubtedly has the tools to bloom into a lethal striker - is record of 10 goals in 12 appearances in Europe since joining United highlights that potential.

But Amorim cannot rely on Hojlund - or Joshua Zirkzee, only 23 - to consistently add goals as his first-choice frontman.

United are in desperate need of a left wing-back, but Amorim's top transfer priority must be bringing his own Viktor Gyokeres to Old Trafford.

I am convinced instant improvement would follow.

Find more from Alex Turk at Stretford Paddock, external

Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton believes the mindset of some of Manchester United's squad is "staggering" and questions whether "the shirt is too big for many of the players".

Speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live's Monday Night Club, Sutton and Rory Smith spoke about the mentality of the players.

"It's a mindset roulette - if it lands on red they'll run through a wall, if it lands on black they can't be bothered," said Sutton.

"It's staggering that it takes a game - that rivalry against Liverpool - to raise the levels. It also tells you how far Man Utd have fallen that they're reading so much into a draw.

"It was a good performance but it shows how far they have fallen.

"If I was a Manchester United fan, I would find it quite staggering that every week they haven't been invested to go into games with that level of performance.

"It also suggests that the shirt is too big for many of the players."

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Pat Nevin
Former footballer and presenter

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Trudging through the freezing snow and slush into Anfield on Sunday, I considered whether it would be a Manchester United mauling or possibly the dull, damp, drab disappointment that this fixture has sometimes served up.

I didn't even consider the possibility of a Premier League classic with the ever-growing excitement of a win or lose cup tie, laced with drama that just grew until the final whistle in front of a raucous and hugely vocal set of fans from both sides.

There were narratives enough to fill an airport page turner. The stories of Slot v Amorin and their varying tactics. I was asking the most obvious question of all long before the last two goals were scored - 'can United show this passion every week and if they can, will they manage European football this season rather than fight against relegation for the rest of the campaign?'

Where did Diogo Dalot's dashing performance come from and was it at least partly down to Trent Alexander-Arnold's paucity on the day? Would Darwin Nunez have been sent off for that 'challenge' anywhere else other than in front of The Kop?

I could go on but the thought in my head above all others was, why can't more Premier League games be like this?

Having watched far too many games whose defining feature is dozens of passes between the goalkeeper and his defenders before any progress is finally attempted to get up the field, I am getting royally bored with this chin stroking style.

It was great when Barcelona did it in their hey day, but that was because you had Xavi, Iniesta and Messi who would then do something beautiful and creative up front. This tiresome overplaying is fast becoming obsolete, even if some coaches and indeed their army of advisors who are over-coaching creatives, haven't figured it out yet.

This fascinating, fast-paced match was more open than some coaches could countenance and it is just to underline, it isn't old school "long-ball" football. This was part of a reaction to an ever-more moribund style that values possession stats, passing stats and any stats over and above the real reason that football exists and is loved by all us, entertainment.

Well at least I hope this is the case.

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After Manchester United put in arguably their best performance of the season to draw away at Premier League leaders Liverpool, The Devils' Advocate team have been reflecting on the display.

Will this kick-start the run of form they need?

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Juventus are interested in signing Netherlands forward Joshua Zirkzee on loan but the 23-year-old has no interest in leaving Manchester United. (Sky Sports), external

Bayern Munich want to hijack Manchester United's bid to sign Sweden striker Viktor Gyokeres, 26, from Sporting. (Star), external

Manchester United and Tottenham are actively exploring a January deal to sign France striker Randal Kolo Muani on loan from Paris St-Germain, with Juventus also interested in the 26-year-old. (Athletic - subscription required), external

Marcus Rashford, 27, is wanted on loan by AC Milan but any deal will depend on Manchester United paying a sizeable portion of the England forward's salary. (Guardian), external

Real Betis are one of several clubs hoping to take Manchester United's Brazil winger Antony, 24, on loan for the rest of the season. (Independent), external

(Sun), external

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Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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It did feel a little bit like the old Manchester United coming out to pay its respects to Kath Phipps at Manchester Cathedral.

Sir Alex Ferguson spoke about first encountering her at the Cliff training ground in 1986. Current player Jonny Evans said he knew her when he arrived at the club from Northern Ireland as a schoolboy due to the amount of books and magazines he had read about the club.

Roy Keane was there. So too Peter Schmeichel. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer flew in from Norway. Michael Carrick took time out from his busy schedule as manager of Middlesbrough.

And David Beckham was there as well. The former England skipper went to see Phipps in her last days, to say a personal goodbye to a woman who devoted virtually her entire life to Manchester United. She was still busying herself at the training ground into last year, even though she was frail and a shadow of the bubbly, fun character she had been.

Ruben Amorim and United's first-team squad sat quietly through a service that included the revered football anthem Abide With Me.

But it was not just the star names. It was the ordinary people at United. Many of whom have left the club, some of whom have been among those made redundant in the purge that has followed Sir Jim Ratcliffe's arrival. All turned out because they loved Phipps. She was always there with a cuddle, with her 'look-on-the-bright-side' approach to life.

It was pointed out this 'club mentality' is at odds with the cost-cutting that has been undertaken. That Phipps was the very embodiment of a 'United person', loyal, defiant, always willing to help – Ferguson recounted Phipps had offered to go see his own wife Cathy in hospital in Manchester, not long after the Ferguson family had moved south from Aberdeen, even though the pair had never actually met.

Ferguson repaid that kindness in spades. When Phipps' husband died, it was Ferguson who ensured a taxi would be provided to ensure Phipps - a non-driver - could still get to work and back.

He spoke to the media about Phipps at the foot of the cathedral steps before he headed off:

"She was a special person," said the Scot. "I'm glad the players turned out. She would really have appreciated that."

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Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim finally has some wind in his sails after the excellent performance in getting a well-deserved point at Anfield on Sunday.

United were fully worth their 2-2 and could have claimed all three points had Harry Maguire not skied over an open goal with seconds left of seven minutes of stoppage time.

Amorim went to Anfield on the back of five defeats in eight games but saw United produce the best performance of his short reign - much better than in the rather freakish 2-1 win at Manchester City.

United were organised, fearless, disciplined and dangerous, making life tough for Premier League leaders Liverpool, who have been sweeping all before them in recent weeks.

Amorim finally has gathered some momentum to lift morale, which has appeared to hit rock bottom on and off the field at Old Trafford in recent weeks.

This means the Portuguese should resist the temptation to put this at risk by making wholesale changes for the FA Cup third round tie at Arsenal on Sunday.

Amorim did exactly that after the win at Manchester City when United then went to Tottenham in the Carabao Cup quarter-final, a much-changed team losing a thrilling tie 4-3 with deputy keeper Altay Bayindir badly at fault for two of the goals after replacing Andre Onana.

United's new manager has been looking for signs that his messages are getting across and he saw them at Liverpool, with the stiffened midfield of Kobbie Mainoo and Manuel Ugarte adding real resolve and solidity to the promptings of Bruno Fernandes.

Amorim must try to build on that new confidence and self-belief by giving the team that did so well at Anfield another chance to secure vital progress in the FA Cup after a week of rest.

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Manchester United defender Diogo Dalot says Ruben Amorim's comments about needing "the leaders to step up to help the other guys" helped to inspire his performance at Liverpool on Sunday.

Amorim's pre-match interview, in which he described some players as being "anxious" and "afraid," was a stark admission from the United boss but did seem to have a positive impact.

"It pinched me," said Dalot. "I think that's what he wanted for every player.

"I've been here for a while. I know that I can step up a little bit more as well in that level and I'm going to try to help my team-mates for as long as I can.

"As long as I'm on the pitch and outside the pitch, I will try to help them. You could see that we were more a team. That was the biggest difference."

A new episode of The Devils' Advocate is available to listen to and download on BBC Sounds.

Gaz Drinkwater and Joe McGrath reflect on a much better showing from Manchester United in the 2-2 draw at Liverpool on Sunday.

Plus, the panel discuss whether Ruben Amorim will stop rotating his side and who could leave Old Trafford in the January transfer window.

Listen to the full episode on BBC Sounds

Simon Stone
Chief football news reporter

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Manchester United are expecting to confirm Amad Diallo's new long-term contract later this week.

On Friday, manager Ruben Amorim said an announcement was "near" and Diallo's value to the club has only increased following his late equaliser at Liverpool on Sunday.

The 22-year-old has been one of the major beneficiaries of Ruben Amorim's arrival as Erik ten Hag's replacement, featuring in all 12 games as either a wing-back or in one of the two attacking roles behind the main striker.

Amorim did say early in his time at Old Trafford it would become apparent which players he viewed as key to his United revolution were.

In addition to Diallo, Noussair Mazraoui has also established himself, either as right wing-back or in a back three. In addition to Diogo Dalot, Harry Maguire and Lisandro Martinez seem settled, while Manuel Ugarte and Kobbie Mainoo - who remains in discussions over an extension to his contract, which expires in 2027 - look secure in the two holding midfield slots.

So, with Amorim looking to bring in new faces if possible this month and United's Profit and Sustainability position regarded as "tight", it is those on the fringes the club would be keenest to move.

Marcus Rashford's situation has been well documented and sources at Napoli have played down their reported interest.

Rashford was not involved at Anfield, while another of United's high earners, Casemiro, remained on the bench throughout.

As with Rashford, United officials realise Casemiro's £375,000-a-week salary vastly reduces the number of options for the midfielder, who still has 18 months left on his contract, with the Saudi Pro-League regarded as the most viable option.

Fellow Brazilian Antony - the second most expensive signing in the club's history - is another close to the top of a list of players United would offload if the finances make sense, with loan moves not ruled out. It is unlikely Christian Eriksen will push to leave given he has less than six months left on his present contract.

United do have sought-after youngsters, who create a bigger financial impact under P&S, but Harry Amass and Dan Gore would only be allowed to leave on loan.