04/10/2025

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Malaysian Paper SCAN ME Pressure mounts Liverpool seek to steady ship, Man Utd’s Amorim faces must-win game SATURDAY | OCT 4, 2025

L IVERPOOL have no time to lick their wounds after back-to back defeats as they prepare for a trip to Chelsea tomor row (12.30am Malaysian time) while Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim is under severe pressure to beat in-form Sunderland. Arsenal can climb to the top of the table ahead of kickoff at Stamford Bridge should they beat struggling West Ham as third-placed Crystal Palace defend the only unbeaten record in the Premier League. A week ago all seemed to be going to plan for defending champions Liverpool, who boasted a perfect record of seven wins from as many games in the Premier League, Champions League and League Cup. However, many of those victories were earned with last-gasp goals, papering over the cracks as Arne Slot sought to find the right balance in a squad transformed during the transfer window. Liverpool splashed out nearly £450 million (RM2.6bn) on new talent but also lost a number of key players including Trent Alexander Arnold and Luis Diaz to fund those moves. The bulk of the spending (RM580) signings has yet scored for the Reds in the Premier League. The remodelling of the Liverpool attack has also reduced the impact of Mohamed Salah, who started Wednesday’s 1-0 Champions League defeat to Galatasaray on the bench. At the other end of the pitch, new full backs Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong have been exposed while Ibrahima Konate is woefully out of form, with his future at the club in doubt. “I’m not watching a top team,” said former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher. “Liverpool aren’t playing foot went on Alexander Isak and Florian Wirtz, but neither of the £100-million-plus

around. Instead, the Red Devils start the weekend in 14th spot after a shocking defensive display during a 3-1 loss to Brentford last weekend. “After everything I’ve seen, honestly, I’ve got no faith in it,” United’s record goalscorer Wayne Rooney told the BBC . “What is going on, this is not all on the man ager, by the way. Players, they’re not deserving to wear that shirt and it hurts.” Amorim admitted that he is “trying” to work towards a position where he can move away from his cherished 3-4-2-1 system. That represents a significant shift in stance for a manager who less than two weeks ago declared that “not even the pope” could get him to drop his favoured formation. For the first time, Amorim hinted at some whis per of flexibility going forward. “We are going to change the system. But it’s not a normal system and sometimes you take longer to go from this system to another systems,” he told TNT Sports . “And that’s what I’m doing. I’m just trying to coach the team the way I see football.”

Despite Liverpool’s flaws, Chelsea would love to be in their shoes. Enzo Maresca’s men are seven points behind the leaders after taking just a single point from their past three matches. Chelsea may be paying the price for their exer tions in winning the Club World Cup in July, with injuries and suspensions already piling up. Cole Palmer, Liam Delap and Levi Colwill are among notable injury absentees, while Trevoh Chalobah is banned after his red card provoked a collapse from 1-0 up to a 3-1 defeat at home to Brighton last week. A looming two-week international break makes the visit of fifth-placed Sunderland even more of a must-win for Ruben Amorim if he is to guarantee today is not his final game in the Old Trafford dugout.

Man United manager Ruben Amorim. – REUTERSPIC

The Portuguese has taken just 34 points from his 33 Premier League games since taking charge last November.

After the club’s worst League finish (15th) since they were relegated in 1974, Amorim needed a fast start this sea son to prove he is capable of turning United’s fortunes

Sunderland travel to the Theatre of Dreams full of confidence after impressing on their return to the top division. The Black Cats are well on course to buck the trend of promoted clubs going straight back down to the Championship after taking 11 points from their opening six matches. – Reuters/Agencies PREMIER LEAGUE FIXTURES All matches at

9pm Malaysian time unless stated TODAY Leeds vs Tottenham (7.30pm) Arsenal vs West Ham Man Utd vs Sunderland (10pm) TOMORROW Chelsea vs Liverpool (12.30am) Aston Villa vs Burnley Everton vs Crystal Palace Newcastle vs Forest Wolves vs Brighton Brentford vs Man City (11.30pm)

FROM LEFT: Liverpool’s Florian Writz, manager Arne Slot and Alexander Isak. – REUTERSPIC

ball at the moment, they are playing basketball. It is just end to end and I don’t think top teams play like that.”

Tension rising

Munoz stresses squad depth

- Story on page 28

- Story on page 29

- Story on page 31

‘I have nothing to lose’ thing

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