Liverpool reportedly passed on Ruben Amorim due to disagreements over tactical philosophy, with the Sporting CP boss now tipped to take over at Manchester United.

Following a disappointing tenure for Erik ten Hag, Ruud van Nistelrooy has stepped in as interim manager at Old Trafford.

Amorim, who led his team to the Portuguese league title last year and remains unbeaten this season, is understood to be United's top target. However, Liverpool had previously shown interest in the 39-year-old after Jurgen Klopp's departure.

The Reds ultimately chose Dutchman Arne Slot due to financial and tactical disagreements with Amorim. The Portuguese coach's flexible 3-4-3 formation, which can shift into a 4-2-4, 5-2-3 or 3-2-5, reflects some of Europe's top wing-backed teams, including Xabi Alonso's Bayer Leverkusen - another manager considered by Liverpool before settling on Slot.

While the manager's tactics can be adjusted depending on the opposition, as demonstrated in his encounters with Tottenham and Arsenal in Europe in 2022 and 2023 when he opted for zonal over man-to-man pressing, Liverpool clearly viewed Klopp's established style as indispensable.

Klopp's distinct 4-3-3 formation was implemented throughout Anfield, and with Amorim steadfastly sticking to his high-possession, expansive style of play, it seemed unlikely that it would be uprooted earlier in the summer.

As a result, ESPN reported that Amorim was overlooked not only due to his unwillingness to alter his tactics but also because of the hefty release clause Liverpool would have had to pay Sporting. There was also reported tension over premature reporting of interest in Amorim. Slot, with his more similar 4-2-4 formation, was the preferred choice, and this has proven beneficial.

The former Dutch manager's 4-2-3-1 formation, often morphing into a 4-4-2 diamond, is a stark contrast to what Amorim would offer. If Liverpool's recent managerial search is anything to go by, there might be a lesson for United in this.

The Reds, despite leaving behind an era that saw them win the Premier League and Champions League under Klopp, had a proven system and chose a manager willing to adapt to it. Amorim's philosophy is vastly different from anything United have experienced recently, and it could bring initial problems - something Liverpool avoided by carefully selecting Slot.

It's crucial for the Red Devils to get this decision right, and only time will tell if Liverpool's rejection of Amorim was a telling sign of how he and his tactics might fare at Old Trafford.