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Jamie Carragher has issued a blunt assessment of Ruben Amorim's future ahead of Liverpool’s high-profile Premier League clash with Manchester United.
Last week, Ratcliffe confirmed that Amorim will be given three years to prove himself following a challenging first 11 months in charge. The 40-year-old now leads Manchester United to Anfield, aiming to secure back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time as well as the Red Devil's first away win.
United currently sit 10th in the table, having collected 37 points from 34 league games under Amorim’s tenure. The side finished 15th last season and suffered a shock Carabao Cup exit at the hands of League Two’s Grimsby in August, highlighting the struggles the manager has faced since taking over.
Ratcliffe pointed to Arsenal’s Mikel Arteta as an example, suggesting that Amorim deserves time to establish himself at Old Trafford. "Ruben needs to demonstrate he is a great coach over three years," Ratcliffe told The Business podcast.
When asked whether Amorim would be given three years, Ratcliffe responded: "Yes. That is where I would be. Three years. Because football is not overnight. "It's three years. You also look at [Mikel] Arteta at Arsenal. He had a miserable time over those first couple of years. We have to be patient.
"We have a long-term plan. It isn't a light switch. You can't run a club like Manchester United on knee-jerk reactions to some journalist who goes off on one every week."
However Carragher says he doesn't agree with his comments. Speaking on Sky Sports Super Sunday, the former Reds defender said: "I understand what the owner's trying to do, he's trying to quell the talk about the manager losing his job.
"He comes out to defend his man and talks about he's got three years. But he almost doesn't help him by saying it because nobody believes it.
"Nobody believes Ruben Amorim is going to be the manager in three years.
"If he'd had said we've got no plans to change our coach over the next 12 months, I think we'd go ok maybe they could get to the end of the season, things may improve and they could get someone in January. That would almost feel like a vote of confidence.
"But to say three years, we all know that if the results keep going the way they're going he's going to lose his job unfortunately. Even though he's come to help him, I don't think those comments have helped him in the end."
Roy Keane also believes Amorim won't be in charge in three years. "I'm not so sure about that," Keane said on Sky Sports. "It's all well and good getting the backing off the board, but results have to improve. You hope, of course, any manager is given time
"Whether he will get three years to play with depends how they do over the next few months. They have picked up a little bit - with the new attacking players they look more of a goal threat.
"But the big test is games like today. Are they going to show their quality or are they going to grind a result out?
"There are still question marks away from home. Yeah, they have picked up, but coming to Liverpool is a huge test and there are still huge questions marks over this group."
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