Manchester United manager shortlist with next three games to decide Ruben Amorim future

Ruben Amorim is teetering on the brink, with just three matches to salvage his position as Manchester United manager. The Red Devils have scraped together a mere four points from their first four Premier League fixtures this season, leaving them languishing in 14th place.

Since taking the reins at Old Trafford 10 months ago, Amorim has only managed to secure eight victories out of 31 league matches, leading to whispers of dwindling confidence among his senior players.

Despite assurances from the United top brass that Amorim still has their full support and there are no plans for a managerial shake-up, it's understood they'll be closely monitoring the team's performance over the next three games.

United, who suffered a crushing 3-0 defeat in Sunday's Manchester derby against City, will face Chelsea at home this Saturday. This will be followed by an away game at Brentford and a clash with newly-promoted Sunderland at Old Trafford, all before the two-week international break.

Amorim is feeling the heat after a dismal start to the new season, especially following last term's disappointing finish when United limped to 15th place under his leadership - their worst league standing in 51 years, reports the Mirror.

The first match post-international break sees United squaring off against arch-rivals and reigning champions Liverpool. If there's no improvement in form or results before this daunting trip to Anfield, club bosses may feel compelled to replace Amorim.

Despite privately maintaining their faith in Amorim, United's football leadership team gave similar assurances to Erik ten Hag, only to give him the boot nine league games into the previous season.

United's league clash with Sunderland will mark their eighth fixture of the campaign, and Amorim is painfully aware that he'll face mounting pressure and risk losing the backing of those who appointed him unless he can string together a sequence of victories.

"It's not a record that you should have in Manchester United," he admitted following the setback at The Etihad. "There are a lot of things that you have no idea what happened during these months, but I accept that.

"But I'm not going to change. When I want to change my philosophy, I will change. If not, you have to change the man."

The bookies have identified Crystal Palace manager Oliver Glasner, former England boss Gareth Southgate, Fulham's Marco Silva and Bournemouth's Andoni Iraola as the leading contenders to succeed Amorim.

Former Spurs chief and current USA manager Mauricio Pochettino, who was previously linked with the United position when Ten Hag got the nod, is also tipped to be amongst the frontrunners should Amorim get his marching orders from Old Trafford.