Rubén Amorim admits that his Manchester United players are “too afraid” to comply | Ruben Amorim

Ruben Amorim says Manchester United players have been gripped by fear during matches and he is turning to the club's supporters, as well as his own family, to lift the increasingly gloomy mood at Old Trafford.

United travel to Liverpool on Sunday with a difference between the two fierce rivals of 23 points after 19 games played. While Arne Slot has given new life to Liverpool This season, Amorim's start at United has been plagued by problems and poor results.

With United on the verge of suffering a fifth successive defeat in all competitions at Anfield, Amorim is tasked with lifting the players' spirits after admitting they felt anxious during Monday's game. 2-0 home defeat against Newcastle. “Sometimes they are afraid in the field,” he said.

“So we have to face that. We need leaders to step up to help others, and I am the person most responsible here for improving performances. You can see the players are trying. “Sometimes they are too anxious and too scared to play football because it is a difficult time.”

The former Sporting manager is the latest to feel the strain of managing United but revealed he has been buoyed by the arrival of his family over the festive period. Amorim's wife and two children landed in Manchester on December 27. “It was a good day,” said the United manager, who joked that the effects of his new job may already be visible in his appearance. “You can see it in my face, you can compare the way I arrived and now,” he said.

“Of course, when you're (losing) there's a lot of pressure. It is difficult to face all the problems, the bad performances and the defeats, it is really hard. It's supposed to be very difficult. The only thing that can help me is training with the players and now I also have my family here, so it's very different, it can help me.”

Joshua Zirkzee was among the United players who received boos from sections of the Old Trafford crowd during the game against Newcastle, but Amorim praised the fans for their support in the second half as the Stretford End repeatedly chanted the manager's name.

“What happened in the second half is incredible. The fans can look at the table and we lose four in a row. But the fans were incredible,” he said. “I can't ask support for anything. Maybe a little more patience. They've had a lot these past few years. “They are tired of this moment and we have to do our job to help the fans.”