Anfield witnessed a dramatic encounter on Sunday as Harry Maguire's late header secured a 2-1 victory for Manchester United against Liverpool, marking their first win at the ground since 2016. The result eases the pressure on United manager Ruben Amorim and inflicts a fourth consecutive defeat on Liverpool.
The game began with a bang as Bryan Mbeumo stunned the home crowd with a goal just a minute after kick-off. A long ball was played forward, and Virgil van Dijk's collision with teammate Alexis Mac Allister allowed Bruno Fernandes to find Amad Diallo, who set up Mbeumo to score.
Liverpool responded with intensity, and Cody Gakpo proved to be a constant threat, hitting the post three times. The Reds finally found an equalizer in the 78th minute when Gakpo tapped in Federico Chiesa's cross. However, their joy was short-lived.
In the 84th minute, Bruno Fernandes delivered a floated ball into the box, and Harry Maguire rose highest to power a header past the Liverpool goalkeeper. The goal sent the United fans into a frenzy and secured a vital win for their team.
Liverpool, who had won their first five league games, now trail league leaders Arsenal by four points after consecutive league defeats to Crystal Palace, Chelsea and Manchester United. Their struggles were further compounded by Gakpo's late miss, heading wide from close range with just three minutes remaining.
Manchester United's victory was their second in a row, moving them up to ninth place in the Premier League table with 13 points from eight games. The win represents a significant turnaround for Amorim's side, who had been under pressure after an inconsistent start to the season. It also marked their first away triumph against Liverpool in 10 years.
The match was not without controversy, particularly surrounding United's opening goal. Van Dijk's collision with Mac Allister, which led to the goal, was deemed accidental by the referee, but Liverpool fans felt it should have been a foul.
Despite Liverpool's dominance in possession and chances created, they were unable to convert their opportunities, with Gakpo's three efforts against the woodwork proving costly. United, on the other hand, were clinical in front of goal, taking their chances when they came.
The victory is a major boost for Manchester United and their manager, while Liverpool and Arne Slot are left to ponder what has gone wrong after a promising start to the season. Liverpool face Eintracht in the Champions League on Wednesday and Brentford in the Premier League on Saturday. Manchester United are next scheduled to play on Saturday against Brighton.
