Harry the hero as Utd stun the champions
A header from Harry Maguire six minutes from time proved to be the difference as manchester United won at Anfield for the first time since 2016. Bryan Mbuemo had given us the lead after a minute in an extremely positive first half before Liverpool equalised. They kept on going and got their reward to secure a first away win of the season.
It is now four defeats in a row in all competitions for the home side though. Yet again, the attack failed to gel for all its undoubted talent, and they looked vunerable at the back. Questions have now got to be asked of whether Slot can get the proper balance into his side.
Ruben Amorim made two changes from the side who beat Sunderland prior to the international break. Matheus Cunha started alongside Bryan Mbeumo and Mason Mount ahead of Benjamin Sesko despite the latter scoring in two games in a row. Harry Maguire also replaced Leny Yoro in defence. Casemiro started despite playing for Brazil during the week. Arnie Slot kept to the same side who lost to Chelsea. That meant that Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitikie started again on the bench.
United started with energy in their last game and found themselves ahead within the first minute. Bryan Mbuemo won an arial battle with Virgil Van Dijk and Alexis McAllister in midfield and the ball came to Bruno Fernandes. Mbuemo recovered in time to run onto a pass laid into the area to beat Mamardashili at his near post. It was one of the fastest goals Utd have ever scored at this ground.
Liverpool were finding it difficult to create much in the opening quarter as their passing was often erratic and were up against a disciplined backline. They did almost draw level on 20 minutes through Cody Gakpo. He ran onto Mohamed Salah’s defence splitting pass and cut inside Matthijs de Ligt. He only succeded in clipping the post though.
They could have found themselves further behind a few minutes later though. Cunha won the ball high up the pitch before spreading it out wide to Amad. He jinked past Milos Kerkez before cutting it back inside to the waiting Fernandes. His effort to the right of the Liverpool keeper clipped the post and went wide.
Gapko was left frustrated again after a decent combination between himself, McAllister, and Aleksander Isak. His chipped effort was meant as a cross but came back off the bar and cleared away.
Senne Lammens appears to have been given the nod as first choice keeper and he came out sharply to deny Isak after he ran onto a ball from Ibrahim Konate.
Utd were still a threat at the other end. Mamardasvili was almost punished from a dropped Cunha cross whilst he had to react well to a chance for Mbuemo.
After the break, Gapko was cursing his luck yet again. Salah floated a cross to him at the back post. In a crowded penalty area, he took a touch before curling his shot goalwards. Again the woodwork foiled him.
Slot elected to make a number of changes in the second and this forced united back into a low block. Soft bookings for both Amad and Casemiro put them in danger of being sent off so Amorim opted to substitute them. This had the effect of disrupting the flow that United had in the first half. Cunha was the main outlet and his tireless work ensured that the ball stuck to him whenever it came his way though.
The home side were to draw themselves level with 12 minutes to go thanks to two of these changes. Florian Wirtz spun away from his marker before playing the ball out wide to Frederico Cheisa who played a low ball across the area. Gakpo timed his run to tap home at the back post.
United might have folded but instead they went back in front. A shot from Mbuemo was blocked after a corner but it came back out to Fernandes. He floated a cross to the back post where a number of united players were waiting. Harry Maguire rose the highest to head home. It was just reward for a strong game and appropriate given he missed the winning opportunity at this ground last season.
Liverpool came came in a desperate effort to get a point at least. Jeremy Frimpong got to the byline and put in a pin point cross. Gakpo arrived at the back post but steared his header wide.
United held on despite eight minutes of injury time being played. Cue massive celebrations in the away end. Amorim has finally secured back to back wins in the Premier League. They must now follow this up against Brighton on Saturday at 17:30. Liverpool will hope to get matters back on track when they take on Brentford at 20:00 the same day.
Liverpool: Giorgi Mamardashvili; Conor Bradley (Florian Wirtz 62), Ibrahim Konate, Virgil van Dijk, Milos Kerkez, Ryan Gravenberch (Hugo Ekitike 62); Alexis McAllister (Curtis Jones 62), Mohamed Salah (Jeremie Frimpong 85), Dominik Szoboszlai, Cody Gapko; Alexander Isak (Frederico Chiesa 72)
Subs not used: Freddie Woodman, Joe Gomez, Andrew Robertson, Rio Ngumoha.
Booked: None.
Sent off: None
Manchester United: Senne Lammens; Matthijs de Ligt, Harry Maguire, Luke Shaw (Leny Yoro 85); Amad Diallo (Patrick Dorgu 59), Casemiro (Manuel Ugarte 59), Bruno Fernandes (Kobee Mainoo 85), Diogo Dalot, Bryan Mbuemo; Mason Mount (Benjamin Sesko 61), Matheus Cunha.
Subs not used: Altay Bayinder, Noussair Mazraoui, Joshua Zirkzee, Ayden Heaven.
Booked: Amad Diallo (52), Casemiro (57)
Sent off: None
Referee: Michael Oliver
Attendance: 60,337
Simply Red Player of the Match: Matheus Cunha
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