After a wait of almost a decade, Manchester United have won a league game at Anfield, and not only could it not have come at a better time for manager Ruben Amorim, the manager was able ton claim almost complete vindication in the decisions he made before kick-off.
Bryan Mbeumo scored after 62 seconds and Harry Maguire scored late on following a Cody Gakpo equaliser – and while Liverpool can claim on statistics that they deserved a point from the game, and while Arne Slot was certainly not gracious in defeat, labelling United a ‘long ball’ team, nobody could really question that the visitors were good value for their win.
Amorim has been under-fire, and deservedly so, for a number of difficult defeats this season. His main source of credit has come in big games away from home but even that didn’t seem to be going well for him after the heavy loss at Manchester City last month. However, this was a little more like the good of what we saw from last season, and it owed something to the decisions made by the manager before kick-off. The selection of Maguire and the omission of Sesko in particular raised eyebrows, as did the decision to start Dalot on the left, and Amad on the right.
That was a decision which paid dividends from the off. Liverpool complained that play continued after Virgil Van Dijk elbowed Alexis Mac Allister. But play did continue and Amad fed the ball into Mbeumo, who got the wrong side of Van Dijk, and fired the ball into the net from a difficult angle in front of the Kop.
Liverpool responded well. Gakpo hit the post and Isak fired at Lammens, before Fernandes hit the post himself to remind the hosts of the away danger. Gakpo hit the woodwork again with a cross and then in the second half, too, before finally levelling as United sat deep. Nobody could argue that the goal wasn’t deserved, nor that Arne Slot hadn’t shown ambition, throwing on multiple attackers in a bid to get a result following three consecutive defeats. But United retained their own ambition and the changes Liverpool made had created an imbalance; that contributed to a back-and-forth conclusion.
When Liverpool made a mess of a throw-in, good work from Mbeumo and Cunha forced a corner. Slot’s side cleared the first Fernandes effort of a cross – but his second, a volleyed centre, was beautiful, and Maguire was there at the far post to head in. Gakpo had time to miss another glaring opportunity but that aside, United saw the game out comfortably, in spite of a generous eight minute stoppage time period to endure.
Maguire’s goal topped off a fine performance. The decision to play Cunha through the middle was inspired, as it posed a different threat to Liverpool, specifically without a straightforward striker against Van Dijk. It could be said the lack of proper control in the middle of the park was expected anyway, and United were always more likely to create chances to win through the avenues which they arrived.
Timing was everything. Just prior to the winning goal, Fernandes had started to become sloppy in critical areas. Amorim was bold enough to get Kobbie Mainoo ready to replace him – but waited. And in waiting, Fernandes produced the type of pass that only he on the field is capable of.
It is the first time, remarkably, that Amorim has won back-to-back league games – though for this to come almost a year into his reign provides an answer by itself when thinking of whether or not this is a turning point. A much larger sample size is going to be needed to provide evidence of complete vindication in the direction of the club, but to take this moment to insist the bigger picture is more important is to dilute the joy of one of the permanent great joys in football, regardless of where either club is at.
In what was United’s 100th visit to Anfield, they secured a big win, and regardless of Slot’s putdown, it was achieved through a bold approach to win the game. For that, Amorim deserves credit.
Ratings : Lammens 7, De Ligt 8, Maguire 8, Shaw 6, Casemiro 7, Fernandes 7, Dalot 6, Mbeumo 8, Cunha 8, Mount 7
Subs : Dorgu 6, Ugarte 6, Sesko 6, Mainoo, Yoro
