'Desperate': Gary Neville shares the 'needs-must' thing Man United must now do against Liverpool on Sunday

Manchester United have arguably the toughest Premier League fixture of the season coming up as they head to Liverpool on Sunday.

The Red Devils ended their 2024 on a particularly low note after losing 2-0 to Newcastle United at Old Trafford on Monday night.

Manchester United are now a lowly 14th in the Premier League table after falling to a fifth league defeat in six games and a fourth in a row in all competitions.

Things don’t get any easier for Ruben Amorim as he takes his charges to Liverpool, who have been in great form this season and are favourites for the title.

Gary Neville, speaking on Sky Sports, gave his honest thoughts on the upcoming fixture and shared what Amorim should now do as a necessity.

READ MORE: Manchester United fans have a lot to say about Alexander Isak after loss to Newcastle

Gary Neville wants Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford back for Liverpool

Neville, speaking after the loss to Newcastle, said: “Do we have to go to Anfield on Sunday? Do you remember in the old days when Sunday League teams wouldn’t turn up because they said the traffic was bad or a few players were unwell?

“Obviously, joking aside, I’ve no idea how they approach this game on Sunday. Manchester United have found this fixture very tough in recent years. The 7-0, I was there watching it to the bitter end like many Manchester United fans were.

“You’re fearing not necessarily of that, but you’re wondering what Ruben Amorim can do? He can point to the Manchester City performance, but I genuinely don’t know.”

Neville then said Amorim needs to bring back Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford, who have not been playing of late, because the situation is now “desperate”.

He said: “Some players may come back. Alejandro Garnacho and Marcus Rashford haven’t been showing the application in training… but they are better than the players out on the pitch currently.

“They’ve got legs and if Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold are lining up against Zirkzee or Bruno [Fernandes] in wide areas, they would probably prefer that to Garnacho and Rashford.

“That will be difficult for Amorim as he wants to set a new culture and standard in the dressing room of what’s right. He’s not liked some of the things he’s seen in the past month or so but right now, it’s needs-must and it’s desperate.

“United are only seven points off the relegation zone. They play Liverpool and then Arsenal away so it’s a really tough moment.

“It’s a young manager who has come over and needs time to settle in, but when results are this bad, it piles on the pressure and Anfield is an unforgiving place to go. It’s the worst place at the best of times.

“The form they’re in is out of this world. I have some fear for Sunday.”

The worrying Man United stats ahead of Liverpool clash

Since Amorim’s appointment in November, Man United have collected just seven points from a possible 24.

The Red Devils have lost six games in all competitions in December, only the third month in their history in which they have lost so many and the first since 1962.

In addition, Man United conceded 18 goals in December, their most in a month since March 1964 (also 18).

And since Amorim’s first game in charge on 24 November, only Southampton (7) have lost more games in all competitions among Premier League clubs than United.

Furthermore, United have lost three consecutive home league games for the first time since February 1979.