After ending 2024 on a run of four straight defeats, Manchester United's first two fixtures of 2025 must have had their supporters running for cover.

United's 2-0 defeat to Newcastle United at Old Trafford on December 30 left the club 14th in the Premier League table, just seven points above the relegation zone. They had also gone three successive league games without finding the back of the net.

It was the worst possible form to take into back-to-back away games against Liverpool and Arsenal - two opponents United had consistently struggled against on the road in recent years.

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But much to almost everybody's surprise, United produced a much-improved showing at Anfield, earning a fully deserved point in a 2-2 draw. It was a performance that gave them the belief that they could go to the Emirates Stadium seven days later and get a result.

For the first time since January 2019, United's supporters left the Emirates in celebratory mood. Around 8,000 of them watched United prevail on penalties to keep their hopes of winning back-to-back FA Cups alive.

Reduced to ten men with 61 minutes played after Diogo Dalot dived in on Mikel Merino already on a yellow card, United's players immediately found themselves with their backs up against the wall. Although they were powerless to stop Gabriel's deflected drive finding a way through and bringing the Gunners level two minutes after Dalot's dismissal, they dealt with everything else the home side threw at them.

From Altay Bayindir's stunning save to keep out Declan Rice's header in the closing stages of regulation time to Matthijs de Ligt's heroic clearance to deny Leandro Trossard in extra-time, United's players defended like their lives depended on it, ensuring the contest went to the lottery of a shootout.

Having prevailed in such testing circumstances, United should take plenty of courage and wisdom into their upcoming fixtures. Their last two showings suggest they have turned a corner.

The courage and determination that has been on show in each of their last two outings has given the supporters fresh hope that something can still be achieved this season. Furthermore, it has given them belief that Amorim is the right man to restore the club to its former glories.

Since Amorim went public to criticise the lack of leadership within his squad, United's players have led by example, rolling up their sleeves when the going has got tough. They came from behind at Anfield to salvage a point when on previous occasions they would have crumbled.

The same can be said about their dramatic 2-1 win over Manchester City at the Etihad Stadium prior to Christmas. Despite being up against an out of sorts City team at the time, United displayed the courage and character to come from behind and win, meaning the positive results they have recorded at the Etihad, at Anfield and at the Emirates in recent weeks have each been far from straightforward.

Having competed with City, Liverpool and Arsenal on an equal footing, Amorim deserves plaudits for making such performances possible. He nailed his approach on each occasion, with the performance at Anfield a little over a week ago particularly impressive.

One of United's biggest faults under Amorim's predecessor, Erik ten Hag, was their record away from home against the Premier League's elite. Under his stewardship, United failed to win any of their ten away games against the 'big six', earning three draws.

It was a diabolical record that Ten Hag was unable to rectify. United conceded 31 goals away from home against their 'big six' rivals under the Dutchman, scoring just 13. They were often humiliated, conceding six to City in October 2022 and seven at Anfield in March 2023, for example.

That fear and ability to collapse has not been on show under Amorim against the country's elite, inspired by the new-found mentality that has been discovered. United have embraced the recent clashes with Liverpool and Arsenal, using them as opportunities to inject belief and positivity back into the camp.

The sort of games that so often left Ten Hag picking up the pieces and opening inquires into what had happened have seen Amorim use them as an opportunity to galvanise his players and gain some momentum. He deserves immense credit for that.