Liverpool, Oct 19: Harry Maguire’s decisive header in the 84th minute propelled Manchester United to a memorable 2–1 victory over Liverpool at Anfield, marking their first win at the Merseyside stadium since 2016.
The result also gives United consecutive wins under manager Ruben Amorim for the first time this season, offering a much-needed morale boost to a side struggling for consistency and easing pressure on Maguire, who has faced criticism during a challenging campaign.
The match exploded into life almost immediately. Just 63 seconds after kickoff, United took the lead with Bryan Mbeumo finishing a lightning-fast counter-attack. A midfield clash left Alexis Mac Allister on the turf, allowing United to sweep up the loose ball. Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo combined effectively, with Diallo threading a precise pass to Mbeumo, who slotted home a first-time finish past Giorgi Mamardashvili. It was the fastest goal in the fixture since Nicky Butt’s strike for United at Old Trafford in 1995.
Liverpool attempted to respond quickly. Mohamed Salah’s free-kick found Virgil van Dijk, whose header went wide, while Cody Gakpo tested United’s defence with a quick counter but was denied by the post. Despite their dominance in possession, the Reds were repeatedly thwarted by the alert United goalkeeper Mamardashvili, who made key saves, including a reaction stop from Mason Mount’s follow-up drive and a foot save from Alexander Isak before the interval.
The first half was defined by near-misses at both ends. Fernandes twice hit the woodwork for United, while Gakpo’s deflected shot and Salah’s header were expertly denied. United, however, maintained composure and looked dangerous on the break.After the restart, Liverpool intensified their attack. Gakpo remained a constant threat, crashing a shot off the far post, and Alexis Mac Allister’s efforts flew over the crossbar. Around the hour mark, manager introduced Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, and Curtis Jones in a triple substitution to inject energy into the attack. (Agencies)
