Ruben Amorim hailed Manchester United’s 2-1 triumph at Anfield as a fitting tribute to the club’s loyal supporters, who have endured tough times, following Harry Maguire’s late header that condemned Liverpool to a fourth straight defeat.
The hard-fought win marked United’s first consecutive Premier League victories since Amorim assumed the helm nearly a year ago. Yet, the Portuguese manager cautioned that the true measure of his team’s potential this season would come in their upcoming home clash against Brighton at 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 reflected.
United had faced severe setbacks earlier in the campaign, including a humiliating League Cup exit to fourth-tier Grimsby in August, which left Amorim teetering on the edge of dismissal after a subsequent loss to Brentford last month.
However, successive triumphs over Sunderland and their arch-rivals Liverpool have propelled the Red Devils to ninth in the Premier League standings, now just two points shy of fourth-placed Liverpool.
“It was really important for our fans. They struggled against Grimsby, against Brentford, and today they saw a different team,” Amorim added. “To win in the stadium of the champions and our biggest rivals is really important.”
While the result carried immense significance, Amorim remained critical of his side’s overall display. Bryan Mbeumo provided the visitors with an ideal opening, blasting in the first goal after only 61 seconds.
United squandered opportunities to build on their lead, with Bruno Fernandes striking the post, but they also relied on fortune to hold firm. Cody Gakpo rattled the woodwork three times for Liverpool before the Dutch striker finally levelled the score in the 78th minute.
Maguire, who had spurned a golden chance in United’s previous 2-2 draw at Anfield back in January, redeemed himself by nodding home Fernandes’s cross to seal the victory.
“It was a great win, not a very well-played game, but a great spirit, and that is all I can ask,” Amorim concluded.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot pinpointed his team’s profligacy in attack and vulnerabilities at set pieces as the culprits behind their slump – the Reds’ worst run of four consecutive losses since 2014.
Alexander Isak, Liverpool’s British record signing at £125 million (US$168 million), was thwarted in his bid for a maiden Premier League goal by Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens before the interval.
Mohamed Salah dragged a prime opportunity wide early in the second half, while Gakpo inexplicably headed off target late on, missing a chance to salvage a draw after Maguire’s strike.
“If you told me before the game we would create eight, nine, or 10 open chances, I wouldn’t think that is possible. From all the chances we got, we only scored one goal,” said the Dutch coach Slot.
“It’s almost impossible to win a big game of football with a negative set-piece balance. We conceded another one today that led to us losing the game.”
The setback leaves Liverpool trailing Premier League pacesetters Arsenal by four points.
