Alan Shearer has explained what Rúben Amorim’s squad must do to persuade him of their prowess as Manchester United face Nottingham Forest on Saturday afternoon.
Manchester United are in terrific form as Rúben Amorim’s side prepare for Saturday afternoon’s Premier League showdown away to Nottingham Forest.
Amorim’s Reds have built strong momentum with three straight wins, defeating Sunderland 2-0, edging Liverpool 2-1, and brushing aside Brighton 4-2 at Old Trafford last weekend.
Forest, meanwhile, continue to struggle for consistency, with Sean Dyche becoming their third manager of what has been a turbulent campaign.
United’s recent run has lifted them to sixth in the Premier League, overtaking Liverpool, while Forest remain 18th with five points from nine games — setting the stage for what should be a heated encounter at The City Ground.
Shearer issues Forest vs United verdict
United’s three wins on the bounce have offered a lot of optimism, but there are still plenty out there offering a more sceptical view that it’s been a spurt of decent form, rather than a wholesale turnaround from the squad.
Speaking with The Metro, former Premier League striker and record goalscorer Alan Shearer has admitted that he feels United have to continue their good form well into November for him to change his mind on Amorim’s suitability for the job.
At the same time, the 55-year-old stated he feels Forest will be very up for the upcoming clash, resulting in the tie being a draw.
“It was a poor result for Sean Dyche against Bournemouth, especially after doing so well in Europe. It will be a rocking atmosphere at Forest, as always when Man United come to town,” Shearer said.
“United are looking for results to keep the good run going, and they’ve had a week off due to being knocked out of the Carabao Cup. I think Forest will get something out of the game, but I’m not sure they’ll win, so I’m going to say a draw.
“I think it’s too early to say they’re the real deal and that United can finish in the top four or five. If they can continue this in a month’s time, I might change my mind, but let’s see what the next couple of weeks bring, and then we can judge whether they’re certainly improving.”
United must continue to dispel their demons
In the last few weeks, United have managed to beat off teams that they previously always fell short of on the pitch.
The win over Liverpool was the first time the club had won a game at Anfield in almost a decade, while the Brighton win halted the Seagulls from securing a fourth consecutive Premier League win at Old Trafford.
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The game against Forest represents yet another fantastic opportunity for United’s men to beat another side that had their number last campaign.
Last season, Nuno Espírito Santo’s men secured two wins out of two against the Reds, winning 3-2 at Old Trafford early in Amorim’s tenure and 1-0 at The City Ground, showcasing their capabilities in style.
However, with the game against Forest coming at an excellent time for United and a turbulent time for Dyche’s team, for once, the odds feel more in Amorim’s favour.
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