Liverpool legend not impressed by Manchester United ace who simply ‘can’t run’

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Liverpool legend Jamie Carragher was not impressed by Sofyan Amrabat during Sunday’s 0-0 Premier League draw with Manchester United at Anfield.

Now, if you are wondering why Sofyan Amrabat has struggled to replicate his outstanding World Cup performances at Old Trafford, there may be a rather simple explanation.

Morocco, while becoming the first African team ever to reach the World Cup semi-finals, tended to defend with every man behind the ball. At Manchester United, in contrast, Amrabat has been left exposed in the number six role with far more regularity alongside the more attack-minded Bruno Fernandes, Mason Mount or Christian Eriksen.

Manchester United draw at Liverpool

The Fiorentina loanee is certainly not the quickest. And it’s no coincidence that one of his better displays for the Red Devils came at Anfield, a game in which United sacrificed possession, plugged the gaps, and dragged Liverpool down into the trenches a la Morocco vs Spain or Portugal.

There was still the odd moment, however, when Amrabat’s lack of athleticism looked an issue, with Carragher feeling that the 27-year-old was a bit of a liability at times when the game became stretched.

“I don’t know why they’re playing a man-to-man (marking) system,” Carragher said during Sky Sports’ live coverage (17 December, 4.30pm).

“He (Amrabat) can’t run.”

In order to get the best out of his one-time Utrecht enforcer, perhaps Ten Hag needs to utilise a system like this more often than not. A deep-lying double pivot, Amrabat partnered with a Kobbie Mainoo or a Casemiro, limiting the room to opposition attackers and ensuring that the Moroccan can sit in and do what he does best.

Jurgen Klopp hails United defending

“They were obviously not here to lose somehow and they really wanted the result. They fought hard for it and credit to them,” a frustrated Jurgen Klopp tells the Liverpool website.

“The way United defended was with a lot of passion. The way we played disorganised them quite frequently but, in the end, we didn’t see that because then they were deep in the box and then they just throw themselves into the balls and the shots.

“If a team defends like that, there’s always a free player because rather two than one wants to block the ball, so it means somebody else is probably free. We didn’t see that and that’s why we drew the game.”