Ruben Amorim, the Portuguese head coach of Manchester United, has expressed his desire for more after guiding his team to a historic 2-1 victory at Anfield, a result that ended United’s long wait for a win at Liverpool since 2016. The late heroics of Harry Maguire, who scored the decisive goal, ensured United secured their first back-to-back Premier League victories under Amorim’s tenure, much to the delight of the long-suffering United supporters.
The victory over Liverpool, which handed them their fourth consecutive defeat, came as a huge relief for Amorim, especially considering the team’s rocky start to the season. The win was seen as a reward for United fans who endured a poor run of form, including a humiliating League Cup exit to Grimsby and a disheartening loss to Brentford. However, despite the magnitude of the win, Amorim remained focused on the future, emphasizing that the real test will come when Brighton visits Old Trafford the following weekend. He believes that how the team performs in that match will provide a better gauge of their potential this season.
“For our fans, this was really important. They’ve struggled with us in recent months, but today they saw a different team,” said Amorim. “To win at the stadium of the champions, against our biggest rivals, means a lot.”
Despite the significance of the victory, Amorim wasn’t fully satisfied with the performance. United had a strong start, with Bryan Mbeumo firing the opening goal just a minute into the match. However, they had to weather a Liverpool storm, with Cody Gakpo hitting the woodwork three times before equalizing in the 78th minute. United’s defense held firm, and Maguire, who had missed a golden chance in January, redeemed himself by heading in a cross from Bruno Fernandes to secure the win.
Amorim acknowledged the win was more about spirit than style, stating, “It was a great win, not a very well-played game, but a great spirit, and that is all I can ask for.”
Meanwhile, Liverpool manager Arne Slot rued his team’s inefficiency in front of goal and their inability to defend set pieces. Despite creating numerous opportunities, Liverpool could only manage one goal. Slot criticized his team’s wastefulness, saying, “We had several chances but only scored one goal. It’s almost impossible to win a big game of football with a negative set-piece balance.”
The loss leaves Liverpool four points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal, adding further pressure on their bid for a title challenge this season.
