Amorim on Rashford illness, Maguire extension and Liverpool

Manchester United boss Ruben Amorim has been speaking to the media before Sunday’s Premier League game at Liverpool (kick-off 16:30 GMT).

Here are the key lines from his news conference:

Amorim said that Marcus Rashford, who has missed the past five matches and has been linked with a move away from the club, has not trained this week because of illness and “is going to be out this week”.
United have triggered a 12-month extension to the contract of centre-back Harry Maguire, while winger Amad Diallo is “near” to agreeing an extension to his current deal, which runs out in June.
On former club captain Maguire’s leadership skills: “He needs to improve as a leader because we are starving for leaders on the pitch. He is a leader, he has to improve that part and he has to improve our game.”
On how Joshua Zirkzee has coped with the poor reception he received from fans when being substituted against Newcastle: “He had that situation during a game, which is really hard for any player, but this can happen. He is focused and he trained very well. We have to move on and pass to the next game.”
Amorim was tight-lipped about transfer plans, saying “I will keep that to myself” – but he added: “We will try to do something.”
On Liverpool, Amorim said that while the league leaders had been the best team this season, in one match “anything can happen”.
He added: “In the moment they are better than us, but we can win any game. We have to focus not on the context but on the performance. We need to improve the simple things to play these kinds of games.”