Boiiissss. Boiiissss! I'm still buzzing!
One of the best games we've seen in a loooonnnngggg ass time and it wasn't just because of the result.
We DESERVED to win!
For me, that is the most important. Yes there was a bit of luck when looking at the three times LFC hit the post and both Gakpo and Salah missing sitters but that's not our problem.
What we did well and is not something we see too often was we stayed in the game which always gives you a chance. This is what allowed us to get that result.
However, there were some negatives and I would like to talk about those first.
1. Giving up possession
I thought we afforded Liverpool too much of the ball. We know that they were always going to have more possession but I don't think we used it well enough when we had it particularly in that second half.
United did go long quite a lot which is a habit of ours but without that focal point of Sesko, we ended up just giving the ball straight back.
We were also much too sloppy, casual and careless at times with very little composure in moments where we just needed to keep things simple. On too many occasions, United would overhit or underhit a pass, would take too long on the ball, would pass it to no one or lose possession because of poor control.
"We lost our composure a little bit in the second half." - Ruben Amorim
That second period was United inviting the pressure because it was all Liverpool who should've scored more goals. This came down to the fact that we kept giving the ball away and sitting far too deep and in those dying moments when LFC were pushing, we didn't really clear the ball properly with Dalot in particular being very frustrating.
I don't like when we don't have much of the ball but I especially don't like it when we give it away too easily even more so knowing that if we had that bit of composure, there were more opportunities for us to hurt them.
2. Too much midfield space
Our midfield is a problem. It has been for a while but what truly annoyed me was how simple it was for Liverpool to play right through us.
This isn't the first time this has happened (and probably won't be the last) but it really was just one pass or one easy run and they were in. Gravenberch, Mac Allister and Szoboszlai had a lot of time and space where they ought to have done better.
It's weird to say this because I don't think Bruno and Casemiro had terrible performances but it is something that has got to improve moving forward because that if we had played a good team, that space would've cost us.
Now, the good stuff.
3. Looked a threat
I won't say that every time we attacked, I felt like we could score but there was a sense of something could happen.
This isn't a feeling we often get with United these days and especially at a ground where we hadn't won in 9 years. However, there was just something about us going forward that gave me this real sense of belief that we could get a positive result.
From the opening minute (literally), United always threatened a Liverpool defense that was shaky. Mbeumo's goal, Bruno's shot off the post, Mount's improvised flick, Maguire's header and other opportunities where had we had that composure, we would've been in.
This is why I was annoyed whenever we gave up possession cheaply because I knew that we could go down the other end and create a chance if not score.
And a lot of these attacks had to do with our right flank and particularly Amad. He was a constant outlet and caused Liverpool quite a few problems. He got the assist for the opener and every time he got the ball, I did feel he was going to create some sort of chance. I thought he was a contender for man of the match until his substitution which I doubt would've happen had he not picked up that yellow card.
What I like about having a proper winger out wide is that he keeps the width and stretches the play. United regularly looked to the Ivorian as an option and with the space created by hugging the touchline, it meant isolating him against Kerkez who was having a difficult time trying to keep Amad under wraps.
Almost all of our best attacks came down his side and if Bruno could finish, Amad would've had 2 assists.
4. Played as a team
Again, this unfortunately isn't something we say too often and the fact that I'm saying it at all is a problem but we do need to give the players praise in this aspect in that they did have a unity about them.
The spirits were high from the off and unlike other performances, we managed to sustain those spirits and energy throughout the 90 minutes. We also didn't drop our heads as we tend to do whenever we concede. If anything, that Gakpo equalizer seemed to bring us even more together and wake us up a little.
As mentioned, that second half lacked a lot of things that on another day, the opposition would've taken advantage of. We let Liverpool control the game and create chances but with some good fortune, we managed to stay in it.
Conceding that goal was frustrating but for the first time in the second 45, United appeared awake almost to a point where they realized we aren't winning this game anymore and we need to do something.
That is precisely what happened and we ended up getting that late winner.
I believe that when these set of players play as one, there is always a good chance we get a positive result from any game. Everyone (other than Dalot) performed in this match which makes it okay to then have to carry one or two underperformers. Usually, it's the opposite that's true with our side as we have one or two good performers with the rest of the team needing to be carried.
The more we play like we did yesterday, the greater the chances of winning most matches.
5. Staying grounded
Amorim finally won back-to-back leagues games. We managed to defeat LFC at Anfield for the first time in almost a decade. We won at Anfield on our 100th visit. United managed to win a game post an international break.
Several ducks were broken.
However, as much as it was a great win and we're all going to milk it, it is about consistency.
We've won two in a row but can we go for three? Or can we put in three good performances at least?
This is where the true test lies because we don't want to have what we've had in the past of winning a big game and losing the next winnable one. We beat City at the Emptihad last season only to go and lose the next three on the bounce without even scoring.
We HAVE to make this victory count. If we can't after such a win, then we never will. Use this momentum, don't get too excited and stay grounded.
“I think so. It doesn’t mean a lot. It means a lot today but tomorrow it isn’t going to mean a lot. It is three points but it is a good victory … But again that is in our hands. This is the past. Let’s focus on the future." - Ruben Amorim
Harry Maguire scores late winner to giveManUtd 2-1 win against Liverpool | Image via Manchester United official X (@ManUtd)