Ruben Amorim reveals why he dropped Benjamin Sesko for huge Liverpool clash despite strong recent form

Ruben Amorim revealed why he dropped Benjamin Sesko in the build-up to Manchester United's blockbuster clash against Liverpool.

And Amorim's revelation gave an insight into how he is hoping to unsettle Liverpool's backline. 

It was a surprise to see Sesko left to stew on the bench considering that the £73.3million man has just found his feet, scoring in United's previous fixtures against Brentford and Sunderland.

But Amorim opted to stick Matheus Cunha up front despite the fact that he is still searching for his first goal in United colours. 

'Cunha returning to the team - I think he's one player [who] has one characteristic that can help us to push the team forward,' Amorim told Sky Sports. 

'I think Ibrahima Konate and Virgil van Dijk likes the confrontation in the air. So we'll try to give them different things to try to win the game.'

Sesko certainly would have been up for a physical challenge, towering over most opponents at 6'5". 

But Amorim opted for something altogether more nippy in Cunha - and that strategy was proven wise straight after kick-off through the feet of another man. 

Bryan Mbeumo stunned Anfield after just a minute as he darted between Van Dijk and Konate to latch onto a through ball and fire past Giorgi Mamardashvili. 

Liverpool were irate and appealed that Alexis Mac Allister had been on the ground holding his head, but referee Michael Oliver claimed not to have seen it. 

Sesko has only started against Liverpool once in his career, with that game coming in the Champions League league phase last October as RB Leipzig lost 1-0. 

The jury is still out on the 22-year-old after a fairly slow start at Old Trafford, but he makes up a new-look front line alongside Mbeumo and Cunha and Amorim has appealed for time. 

'He is going to feel that he is in the strongest league in the world,' Amorim said in September.

'We can help Sesko to use his qualities, but it will take time.'