Amad: Wayne Rooney lauds star for causing Liverpool “big problems” in big Anfield win

Manchester United icon Wayne Rooney has heaped praise on Amad for his role in the side’s 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Anfield.

United made a dream start at Anfield, as Bryan Mbeumo struck inside two minutes to open the scoring.

Mbeumo latched onto a superb pass from Amad before coolly slotting past Giorgi Mamardashvili. Cody Gakpo made it 1-1 in the 78th minute, giving the hosts some hope of mounting a comeback and sealing all three points.

However, Harry Maguire silenced the Anfield crowd moments later, rising above the Liverpool defence to power home a superb cross from Bruno Fernandes.

Amad started the game at right-wing-back, from where he struck an excellent partnership with Mbeumo. The Ivorian was a constant source of threat and nearly registered an assist when he set up Fernandes, but the skipper could not direct his effort on target.

Amad was taken off just before the hour mark after he was shown a yellow card by Michael Oliver.

Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show , Rooney praise Amad, insisting the Liverpool defenders did not know how to contain him.

Rooney said, “I think positionally, as you said then, Amad was causing problems.”

“He was always in between, so Liverpool [players] didn’t know who to pick him up and I thought, as I said, tactically, with no striker, it really worked and caused Liverpool big problems.”

United’s record goalscorer also opened up on Maguire’s turnaround after a tumultous time in his Old Trafford career, in which he was constantly humiliated and even became a “meme.”

“I think bringing Harry Maguire in, I don’t know whether that was through injury or he had to, and I said a few weeks ago on here he’s such an important player for Manchester United .’

“I think with Harry, I would really struggle to have dealt with what he’s been through. You know, he was a meme for years. I think I’ve seen him in parliament, over in Africa somewhere where he’s getting brought up in that and they’re laughing at him. So for him to have dealt with so much of what he’s dealt with, he’s incredibly strong-minded to have gone through that.”

“Then, getting the armband taken off him and people laughing at him and you’re like, this guy has been in World Cup teams of the tournament and been incredible for England, been really good for Man Utd and it’s completely unfair, and it was bullying.”

Rooney continued, “He was getting bullied from all over the place and for him to have dealt with that and got through it and stuck with it, you’d have to say ‘you know what, that’s a strong human being’. And for him to get through that and his family to get through that and come out the other side and show his ability, quality and strength.”

“I couldn’t be happier for him.”

United are back in action on Saturday when they take on Brighton and Hove Albion at home.

Featured image Michael Reagan via Getty Images

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