With Man United closer to the relegation zone than Liverpool in second place, new coach Ruben Amorim has admitted his side will be dragged into the elimination battle

Liverpool and Man United meet on Sunday in a battle with big differences, with Arne Slot’s side setting the standard at the top while Amorim’s side slip ever closer to the relegation zone.

After 19 games, the Old Trafford side are in 14th place and just seven points above the drop zone – a margin smaller than the difference between the Reds and second-placed Forest (eight).

After United suffered their ninth league defeat with a 2-0 defeat to Newcastle on Monday evening, and the sixth in Amorim’s short tenure, relegation talks emerged.

Asked by BBC Sport if his side are now fighting to avoid relegation, Amorim said: “I think it is a possibility. We have to be clear with our fans.

“We have to change something. This season will be very hard for everyone.”

It’s mind-boggling how Gary Neville predicted Man United will do better than Liverpool this season, that’s some very special rose-tinted glasses!

Ipswich, Leicester and Southampton currently sit in the bottom three places, but form over the last six games has left United as the second-worst team with just three points from 18 available.

Liverpool, meanwhile, have added 14 points to their tally in the same period – and are only bettered by Nottingham Forest (15), who Slot’s side will face again on January 14th.

No Reds fan will take Sunday’s game for granted, form may be lost in these encounters, but Amorim’s assessment of their current situation was damning.

Asked if it was embarrassing to discuss relegation as Man United manager, Amorim said: “Yes. It’s also my fault at this moment.

“The team is not improving. It was a little lost at that moment, so it’s a little embarrassing being the manager of Manchester United and losing a lot of games.”

Here’s hoping Amorim suffers another defeat on Sunday to compound his misery over the worst league start of any United manager in 103 years.