Harry Maguire’s late header bookended Manchester United’s surprising, streak-shaking 2-1 win over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
MORE — Arne Slot reaction | Ruben Amorim reaction
Bryan Mbeumo put United ahead in the second minute but Cody Gakpo had it 1-1 in the 78th minute. It was only level for less than six minutes.
It’s a fourth-straight loss for Liverpool and ends their 20-match unbeaten run at Anfield.
It’s Man United’s first win there since 2016, and shockingly their first consecutive Premier League wins under Amorim.
WATCH — Liverpool v Manchester United full match replay
Liverpool’s losing streak includes a trio of PL losses, and their 15 points drop behind third-place Bournemouth on tiebreakers. The Reds are four points behind leaders Arsenal.
Man United go ninth with 13 points, one more than Brighton.
Ruben Amorin gets it all right as players let down Slot
Call him too stubborn if you like, but Ruben Amorim continues to trust his vision and boy did it work out well on Sunday. Amorim opted for Harry Maguire over Leny Yoro, Matheus Cunha over Benjamin Sesko, and Amad Diallo and Diogo Dalot over Patrick Dorgu. Each of them were set to be under the microscope in this game and they performed well under the increased focus,
Liverpool boss Arne Slot sounded surprised before the game in mentioning Sesko not starting, and he knew his center backs faced a speedier challenge than the physical battle he expected from Sesko and Co. He was going to need a lot from his starting forwards, and he did not get it. Alexander Isak was quiet and Mohamed Salah loud but in the wrong ways and he missed big chances and took some off of his teammates. That said, Slot has refused to start Hugo Ekitike and benched Florian Wirtz in what felt like a scapegoat move. But players were upgrades when they entered the fray.
There was also bad luck. On another day, Cody Gakpo has a hat trick and perhaps this game is a five-goal thriller. On another day, Virgil van Dijk doesn’t show shocking and atypical apathy in reading the attack on Mbeumo’s goal. On another day, Giorgi Mamardashvili gets more of his thigh on Mbeumo’s near-post rip,
Yet results matter and United have two wins in a row. They get to credit their boss for his bravery in planning and execution as he was quick with a hook after Casemiro’s solid half-hour and Amad’s yellow card. Maguire, Dalot, and Mount delivering means there’s going to be continued good competition at center back, wingback, and forward as United face on average just one game a week. Maybe the kid with all his hair awaiting a five-game winning streak has hope of going to the barber’s this season after all.
What’s next?
The Reds take to the road, first on Wednesday at Eintracht Frankfurt in the UEFA Champions League and then back in the Premier League at Brentford come 3pm ET Saturday.
Man United get just under a week to prepare for a 12:30pm Saturday visit from Brighton and Hove Albion.
Liverpool vs Manchester United final score: 1-2
Bryan Mbeumo 2', Cody Gakpo 78', Harry Maguire 84'
Liverpool vs Manchester United live updates — by Nick Mendola
Harry Maguire goal video
What a moment.
Harry Maguire goal — Liverpool 1-2 Manchester United
They were level for maybe a half-dozen minutes!
Bruno Fernandes recycles a ball and does it with precision, giving veteran center back Harry Maguire — who now? But also who else? — the chance to thud a header past Mamardashvili.
What a bonkers game. What a fitting affair for this longtime rivalry.
Cody Gakpo goal — Liverpool 1-1 Manchester United
Wirtz cues up Chiesa, and a pass under the splayed leg of Patrick Dorgu — whose outstretched leg is keeping Gakpo onside — is punched into the roof of the goal by the in-form Dutchman.
Isak off
That’s it for the big Swede, who has yet to score for Liverpool in the PL.
Federico Chiesa’s in the game for him with under 20 minutes to play at Anfield.
Wirtz and Ekitike combine
Wirtz takes the ball off the backs and pushes it wide to Hugo Ekitike, who is given space and respect by Diogo Dalot.
Ekitike steps into a hard low shot that fires across the goal but misses the frame.
1-0 Man United into the 70th minute.
Mohamed Salah misses massive chance
Woah.
Patrick Dorgu cannot handle Milos Kerkez’s cross from the left and Mo Salah is all alone at an acute angle but with plenty of goal in his sight.
Senne Lammers darts out to cover the angle but Salah doesn’t even challenge him, slicing a left-footed shot way wide given his proximity.
Don’t see that a lot. He remains ice cold in Liverpool red.
More subs
Liverpool make three subs, as Alexis Mac Allister, Ryan Gravenbech, and Conor Bradley exit for Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz, and Curtis Jones.
This should see Dominik Szoboszlai sink to right back as Isak, Wirtz, Ekitike, and Salah will all be out there for Liverpool.
Benjamin Sesko replaces Mason Mount for United.
Two changes for Man United
Manuel Ugarte replaces Casemiro almost immediately after the Brazilian saw yellow for sliding down Mohamed Salah.
Amad Diallo is also withdrawn on yellow for Patrick Dorgu.
We’re in the 59th minute upon completion of those substitutions.
Amad Diallo yellow card
It’s being called a reckless challenge, as Amad Diallo goes to ground and smacks away a pass intended for Cody Gakpo, catching Ryan Gravernberch’s ankle with his studs upon follow through.
The punishment is surely for sliding in the first place, as Diallo’s needed to slide in order to deprive Gakpo the ball.
Not a repeat
Gakpo again clatters the far post after collecting a free kick with his thigh — what control — and creating space on Luke Shaw to deliver a right-footed strike across goal.
Still 1-0 Man United now in the 51st minute.
No subs at the break
The same 22 players return to the pitch as Man United hunt a memorable win.
Halftime — Liverpool 0-1 Manchester United
Again, Slot seemed surprised by the absence of Sesko in the Starting XI and he may be happy to get back to the room and change his plan.
Liverpool have had more than 60% of the ball, but shots are about even (7-6 to the hosts) and United have produced a bit more danger (0.74-0.57 xG).
And Ruben Amorim’s men lead 1-0. It sets up for a fantastic second half.
Bruno Fernandes flashes wide
This should be 2-0, shouldn’t it?
Amad’s behind it again, toying with the ball on the right side before squaring to a late-arriving Bruno Fernandes just inside the 18.
The Portuguese slashes a shot that kisses the outside of the near post.
1-0 Man United now in the 25h minute.
Gakpo off the post!
This time Gakpo goes for goal from outside the box, a bit more central after cutting onto his right foot.
He cranks a shot off the far post, the ball rocketing back to the top of the 18.
Entertaining start at Anfield.
Liverpool penalty shout
Mac Allister, now wearing a Petr Cech style helmet or Michael Phelps-esque swim cap, slips the ball to Cody Gakpo on the left.
The Dutchman’s cross clips the elbow of a turning Amad Diallo. Liverpool want a penalty but neither Oliver nor VAR think Diallo’s arm was in an unnatural position.
Bryan Mbeumo goal video
Bryan Mbeumo goal — Liverpool 0-1 Manchester United
Wow!
Harry Maguire thuds a header from his own third that is knocked down and Bruno Fernandes sprays it forward.
Virgil van Dijk plows into Bryan Mbeumo and Alexis Mac Allister, and his elbow floors the latter. It looks like a head injury but it happens so fast and VAR’s explanation is that Oliver was unaware of the head problem at this point.
Bruno Fernandes finds Amad Diallo on the right and the wingback slides a pass onto the right side of a recovering Mbeumo, who has a yard on Ibrahima Konate and hits the ball off Mamardashvili’s thigh and over the line.
Van Dijk sadly gets a great view of the goal.
Ruben Amorim thoughts
“I said before the Brentford game that the next game is the most important, the one that will change the mindset of the team. If we start thinking that [any] one game is more important than the other, it’s mistake.”
Arne Slot speaks
The Reds boss seems surprised if not offput that Benjamin Sesko is not in Man United’s lineup.
He says his team work ethic has been good but they need form performances now.
Liverpool lineup
Mamardashvili, Kerkez, Van Dijk, Konate, Bradley, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Mac Allister, Gakpo, Salah, Isak
Manchester United lineup
Lammens, Shaw, De Ligt, Maguire, Dalot, Fernandes, Casemiro, Diallo, Mount, Mbeumo, Cunha
Liverpool vs Manchester United preview — by Joe Prince-Wright
Liverpool have suffered three defeats in a row for the first time under Arne Slot (it’s also the first time he’s ever lost three on the trot in his career as a manager) as they lost 2-1 after conceding a 95th-minute goal at Chelsea before the international break. Virgil van Dijk and other leading Liverpool figures have urged calm but the reigning Premier League champions have looked unbalanced and shaky all season despite winning all of their first five league games. There is also concern over Mohamed Salah and Florian Wirtz who are yet to get going in attack.
Manchester United beat Sunderland 2-0 at home before the break to make it two wins from three. They are yet to win on the road this season but the pressure has eased on Ruben Amorim as Matheus Cunha has returned from injury, Senne Lammens looks like a great pick-up in goal, Benjamin Sesko is getting up to speed and Sir Jim Ratcliffe has given the Portuguese coach a huge vote of confidence. United will look to play the role of spoilers at Anfield and sit back, soak up pressure and try and use the likes of Bryan Mbeumo, Cunha and Amad Diallo on the counter to hurt Liverpool.
Liverpool team news, focus
Goalkeeper Alisson remains out injured, so Giorgi Mamardashvili will continue in goal and he’s a fine back-up. With young center back Giovanni Leoni out with a long-term knee injury, Liverpool only have Joe Gomez as cover in central defense and he may be needed. Ibrahima Konate did not play for France during the international break as he suffered a thigh issue against Chelsea before the break. Konate is battling to be fit for this game and if he isn’t, Gomez will line up alongside Virgil van Dijk. Holding midfield duo Ryan Gravenberch and Wataru Endo are also battling to be fit but should be okay. It will be intriguing to see how Slot lines up Liverpool in attack with Mohamed Salah struggling on the right, so perhaps he could play in a more central role to get him going? Will Florian Wirtz start on the left or centrally? And will the duo of Hugo Ekitike and Alexander Isak both start to have a real go at United from the start?
Manchester United team news, focus
United will have both Lisandro Martinez and Noussair Mazraoui back soon and they have a huge number of players available. Amorim will have been impressed with Lammens in goal as he kept a clean sheet in the win against Sunderland; The Belgian stopper will start again, while defense and midfield is settled with Casemiro and Bruno Fernandes in the engine room. The most intriguing selection dilemma is whether or not Matheus Cunha comes in to start over Mason Mount. The latter has looked sharp in recent appearances and scored a beauty against Sunderland. Cunha could also start in place of Benjamin Sesko up top, but it feels like the Slovenian giant has a big role to play in this game to hold up the ball and ease the pressure on United.
Liverpool vs Manchester United prediction
This feels like it has a draw written all over it as Liverpool will struggle to stop the effectiveness of United’s counters. Liverpool 1-1 Manchester United.
How to watch Liverpool vs Manchester United live, stream link and start time
Kick off time: 11:30am ET Sunday (October 19)
Venue: Anfield — Liverpool
TV Channel: USA
Streaming: Watch live on NBC.com
