After a win last time out at home to Sunderland, and with Liverpool having lost the last three of their own games in both the league and in Europe. You would think it was an ideal time for Manchester United to cut their teeth against the reigning Premier League champions. However with the international break stopping domestic action for two weeks, it gave a chance for a reset, and a trip to Anfield after all of the travel and disruption of such the break appeared a daunting task.
Match Report
As is becoming the norm with Ruben Amorim, changes were afoot. The starting Xl saw a return for previously suspended Casemiro, Maguire being preferred to Leny Yoro in one of those three centre back roles, and most surprisingly, Šeško was left watching from the bench, with the Portuguese boss starting with a front three of Mount, Mbeumo and Cunha.
Amorim wasn't alone in making changes, as Arne Slot also made some of his own, notably leaving record summer signing, Florian Wirtz on the bench.
So as is the norm at Anfield, the banners and ritual tune of YNWA welcomed both teams out of the tunnel as United were tasked with attacking the infamous Kop in the first half of the Sunday evening Premier League fixture.
If there were any nerves caused by the atmosphere or hostile territory greeting United, they were very quickly extinguished, as inside 90 seconds, United had the ball in the back of the net.
Mbeumo ran through following a direct move started by Lammens and played through by Amad. Some confusion between a Liverpool centre back pairing saw Mbeumo beat the attempted offside trap and lift the ball beautifully over Mamardashvilli to silence 3/4 of Anfield. A dream start for the visitors, and instant vindication for those frontline changes.
Then, a touch of controversy as Mac Allister was down near the centre circle with what was a head injury, but referee of the day Michael Oliver stated to not have seen the incident. No one of a United persuasion cared, although it did leave the midfielder donning a skull cap for the rest of the contest; reminiscent of the one Petr Čech used to wear week in week out for Chelsea (and Arsenal) back in the day.
As you would expect following such an early set back, Liverpool set about controlling possession for large amounts of the first half. With everything that was good from an attacking sense from the Merseyside team coming from Cody Gakpo. Who himself hit the post three times in the game, twice in the first and once in the second. Although right at the end of the first could've found himself providing the second for United, but the ricochet from a free kick found itself spin agonisingly over the bar.
For all of Liverpool's dominance with the ball, they failed to really trouble United's back line, and if anything it was United who should have gone further into the lead, as a square ball found Bruno Fernandes on the edge of the area, and instead of finding the net he too found the frame of the goal; to the visible frustration of his countrymen manager.
There was still time in the first half for Lammens to further cement himself as a cult hero, as he kept out what appeared to be a certain equaliser for the home side as Isaak was through one on one and shot low and hard across the goal, but the young Belgian saved smartly with his feet; to the cheers from the away end. Drawing increased comparisons to United legend Peter Schmeichel.
The second half shaped up like large portions of the first, with Liverpool taking hold of the ball, but not troubling the back 5 on too many occasions. United were able to utilise Bruno, Amad and Cunha as their out ball, with the latter having arguably his best game since joining from Wolves in the summer. Impressing with some classy touches, aggression and persistence in his hold up play to break up the attacks by the home side.
Salah on the other hand, who has usually been so pivotal in this fixture over the last few years, continued his indifferent season form failing to test Lammens, with a golden opportunity falling to him in the second half and despite being unmarked at the back post, lashing it wide to the frustration of the Kop, who were doing all they could to suck the ball into the back of the net.
Liverpool's persistence did finally reap reward though in the 78th minute, as the Liverpool player of the match: Cody Gakpo, found himself middle of the goal from a driven Chiesa cross which he side footed neatly into the net. The cries from United for offside were thwarted upon replay, as the introduced Patrick Dorgu was found to be playing the Dutch striker onside. Game on!
As Anfield roared with delight, there did genuinely feel like United had another goal in them. Optimistic thought, soon became a reality. As Bruno Fernandes provided an instinctive one touch volleyed cross into the box from the blocked shot of Mbeumo and found United's ever formidable defender-striker hybrid, Harry Maguire who out jumped Konate to cushion his header back across goal to snatch back the lead for United in the 84th minute. A quick glance across to the linesman, followed by jubilant celebration in front of the away fans. A moment that exiles the miss from the same fixture last season. A miss which saw him balloon a golden chance high over the bar with the last kick of the game, which would've seen United win.
With 6 minutes of regulation time remaining there was still time for Liverpool to come back (again) and Gakpo probably should have done minutes later where he found himself unmarked with a free header, but unlike Maguire lacked the composure to find the target, and put it wide.
Liverpool continued to huff and puff and were enthused by the side line, as 8 minutes added time made it onto the fourth officials board. An amount of time which many struggled to understand giving the lack of real stoppages in the game; especially in the second half. Still, United managed that period of added time well, further limiting their opponents and roared with delight when that final whistle finally came.
Manchester United win at Anfield, something United fans haven't heard in nigh on a decade, and a win that sees Amorim (finally) win back to back league games for the Red Devils. Is this his moment? Many managerial reigns have a moment that defies them, this could very well be that one for Ruben Amorim.
On the other side, Liverpool will be asking some hard questions of their own season, as they lose four games on the bounce. Their worst run in many a year and the worst of Arne Slot's career. This result sees United creep up into the top half of the Premier League table, and are now only two points behind their bitter rivals.
Ruben Amorim: "The fans always supported me… even when everyone said I’d be gone by Christmas!" [@BeanymanSports]
— UnitedReds (@UnitedRedscom) October 19, 2025
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It will be interesting to see if Slot receives the same level of criticism that Amorim has had to endure from media and fans alike. Whatever the reactions though, you can be sure that the red side of Manchester and any that don the famous red will be celebrating long into the night (and probably into next week). Could this be the start of something, or is it just another false start? Only time will tell.
