Ruben Amorim hailed Manchester United’s 2-1 triumph over Liverpool at Anfield as a milestone for the club and its fans, marking their first win at the historic stadium since 2016. Harry Maguire’s late header sealed the victory, handing Liverpool their fourth consecutive Premier League defeat.
The win also gave United back-to-back league victories for the first time under Amorim’s management, nearly a year into his tenure. Yet, the Portuguese manager stressed that the true measure of progress will come in their next match, when Brighton visits Old Trafford.
“That was the biggest win in my time at Manchester United. It means a lot today, but tomorrow it won’t mean a lot,” Amorim said. “How we respond next week will show what we can really achieve this season.”
United’s season has been turbulent, with a shocking League Cup exit to fourth-tier Grimsby in August and a shaky league form that nearly put Amorim’s job in jeopardy after a loss to Brentford. But wins over Sunderland and now Liverpool have lifted the Red Devils to ninth in the Premier League, just two points behind fourth-placed Liverpool.
“It was really important for our fans,” Amorim added. “They endured tough moments against Grimsby and Brentford, and today they saw a different team. To win at the stadium of the champions and our biggest rivals is a huge moment.”
Despite the historic result, Amorim admitted he wasn’t fully satisfied with the performance. Liverpool’s Bryan Mbeumo gave the visitors an early shock by scoring after just 61 seconds. United had opportunities to extend their lead — Bruno Fernandes hit the post — but also had to withstand pressure. Cody Gakpo struck the woodwork three times before eventually equalizing in the 78th minute. Maguire, who had missed a critical chance in their previous Anfield visit, became the hero by heading in Fernandes’s cross to secure victory.
“Was a great win, not a very well-played game, but the spirit was outstanding, and that’s all I can ask for,” Amorim said.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot lamented his team’s inefficiency in front of goal and vulnerability on set pieces. With Alexander Isak denied by Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens and Mohamed Salah missing key chances, Slot acknowledged the difficulty of winning under such circumstances.
“If you told me before the game we’d create eight, nine, or ten clear chances, I wouldn’t believe it. From all those chances, we only scored once,” Slot said. “It’s nearly impossible to win a big game with a negative set-piece balance.”
The defeat leaves Liverpool four points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, extending their run of consecutive losses to a level unseen since 2014.
