SIR HARRY MAGUIRE!
If these two guys aren't knighted after that, then nobody ever deserves or deserved a knighthood.
An incredible game at Anfield. If ever there was a match to not cock up, this would be it.
And we didn't 😁.
You know, these are the games we watch football for. These are the games we live for. Having to wait two weeks as well after an international break was tough, but so worth that wait in the end.
United finally end their Anfield drought after nearly a decade, Amorim gets his first back-to-back league wins (I think he planned to do so at Anfield. My manager is playing 4D chess 😉😅), we win on our 100th visit to Anfield, and we get to taste Liverpool tears 😭.
What a time to be alive 🙌!
Coming into this one, there were all of those things mentioned above that weren't accomplished and it seemed that most were confident that those unwanted records would remain post this game of all games, but I just had a feeling we would do something today. A part of me felt, we WILL get a result.
Amorim's best performance last season was Anfield. His best performance this season was Anfield. Seems like he really likes to play against this opponent 🤷♂️.
Starting Lineup
Questions were asked of the manager's selections.
I don't want to hear any more questions asked of his XIs again!
That is a bit of sarcasm because even I was frustrated with that team and to an extent, still am. I'll tell you why in a second.
But one can never truly judge a game based on the starting team but you still do have your reservations. Why was Yoro dropped again for Maguire? Dalot out of position at LWB ahead of Dorgu? No Sesko?
These are all valid questions and why I still have my doubts about this team: it appears very short-termism.
Amorim said pre-match that he had to select a side that is best for this game ("It's to try and choose the best starting XI to win the game."). I don't like that because it then appears as if we're going on a game-to-game basis rather than having a set plan and XI.
But for this particular game, it worked. It so worked.
First Half
Pretty much the perfect way to begin any game as Mbeumo opens the scoring within 90 seconds. Yes, before you could take a breath, United were in the lead.
The Cameroonian was played through by Amad who started at RWB (to many people's surprise) with United's new signing putting the ball past LFC backup goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili. A very unforeseen start to such a fixture.
There was a bit of controversay though. Before the goal, there was a coming together of players with midfielder Alexis Mac Allister going to ground clutching his head. Referee Michael Oliver played on and United took full advantage. However, upon replay, it was the Argentine's own captain Virgil van Dijk who took him out not Mbeumo who was sandwiched between the two.
Hey, they say play to the whistle so...
The home side did grow back into the game as the half went on. Cody Gakpo coming close with a shot that hit the upright after a sweeping move from the Reds. Lammens in goal was a bystander.
United then hit back with a chance of their own as captain Fernandes ended up hitting the post as well when he should've at least hit the target. Do so and United would've been 2-0 up.
Another chance for LFC came about as Alexander Isak was played through on goal only to be thwarted by the ever-impressive Lammens.
The first 45 ended with United heading into the break with an unlikely lead. Amorim would've been very happy with what he saw.
Second Half
We all knew that Liverpool couldn't come out and play in the same flat manner. And nor did they.
Not long after the restart, Gakpo once more hit the frame of the goal. A powerful right-footed shot saw Lammens flat-footed again. The Liverpool forward trying his best to get his side back on level terms but to no avail (yet).
It was actually disappointing from United with how we approached the second half as we just sat back and invited the pressure. We had little to no attacking threat allowing Liverpool to have easy possession and create chances.
Amorim then had to make changes as Casemiro was forced off after an injury (and yellow card) with Amad being the other to come off. He too was booked. Ugarte and Dorgu their replacements.
The LFC manager looked to his bench as well as Slot made a triple substitution as Conor Bradley, Ryan Gravenberch and Mac Allister came off for Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and Curtis Jones and immediately, we saw a change in the home side.
Ekitike making the biggest difference as he showed his confidence with a driving run and shot that went over the bar. Clear intentions by one of LFC's biggest signings.
Mo Salah, who has been having a season to forget, had a game to forget as well. The Egyptian was hardly involved and when he was, missed a sitter after he was left unmarked at the back post. Everyone associated with Liverpool was left frustrated at a player who usually produces big time against United.
United's luck eventually ran out though, as Gakpo finally managed to put one on target although he was hardly going to miss from 5-yards out. Another substitute in Federico Chiesa getting the assist.
With over 10 minutes remaining, it was anyone's game although there had been a shift in momentum.
Liverpool's Dutch forward wasn't done there however, as similarly to Salah, missed an unbelievable chance. His unmarked header from close range went well wide of the post when it seemed easier to score than to miss. Another HUGE let off for United.
However, never write United off.
If you look up the word 'clutch' in the dictionary, you will see a picture of Sir Lord Harry Maguire. In fact, I think they should replace the word altogether and just use 'Harry Maguire' instead. Same thing 🤷♂️.
After letting in a poor goal at the other end, Maguire and co had to make amends.
United get a corner in the 84th minute. Bruno passes it to Mbeumo on the edge of the box. His shot is blocked. It comes back out to the captain who puts in a beautiful first-time cross on the volley. It's perfectly onto Maguire's head and the former captain was not going to miss from there.
Perhaps one of the easiest headers he will ever score and the defender turns out to be the hero once again.
An incredible moment for him, the team, Amorim and us fans.
While there was still a lot of time left (8 minutes were added on), it just never felt like we were going to throw it away, which is odd considering we're talking about United.
We managed to hold out and picked up those HUGE 3 points.
Verdict on Amorim
The United manager is always under pressure. Regardless of his situation, if he were to lose one game, the knives come out. The problem for Amorim is, he seems to lose every game.
But not against Liverpool.
The Portuguese has faced them twice now with both fixtures at Anfield, has scored 4 goals, gotten 4 points and not lost. They were also his two best performances as United manager IMO.
"Can we play you every week? Can we play you every week?"
He finally ended the no back-to-back league victories duck, has built some momentum from the Sunderland win, moved into 9th (just 2 points behind 4th-placed Liverpool 👀), and bought himself extra time in the United hot seat.
Amorim's selections have been questioned but when he gets it right, he deserves his praise. Today, he was spot on particularly with that Maguire selection over Yoro. His substitutes came on and did well and we deserved to get a result which is perhaps the greatest compliment.
United weren't pathetic, we didn't away with one, it wasn't just park the bus. United played as a team.
Yes there were still some issues but in a game like this, when you beat your greatest rivals, it was the perfect game.
Now, it's about continuing this momentum and form because there is no easy game in the PL. Brighton at home next is a difficult game which is why this win was all important.
Very happy today indeed 😁.
Ratings
Lammens - 7
De Ligt - 7
Maguire - 8
Shaw - 7
Amad - 7.5
Bruno - 6.5
Casemiro - 6
Dalot - 4
Mbeumo - 7
Cunha - 7
Mount - 6
Ugarte - 6
Dorgu - 5.5
Sesko - 6
Mainoo - 6
Ruben Amorim - 8 MOTM
Final Thoughts
I CANNOT wipe the smile off my face. In fact, I WILL NOT, until Brighton beat us 😅😭.
But these victories taste sweeter. To beat those fools in their own backyard, ngl, there is no greater feeling in football 😌.
To condemn them to four straight losses and for Amorim to get back-to-back PL wins for the first time by defeating Liverpool as well, it's almost poetic.
We also silence them because we know how LFC fans can be. I doubt we'll hear or see any of them until their next victory which who knows how long until that happens. I don't think even Amorim went four losses in a row 👀.
Let's enjoy this one guys. They don't happen too often.
Bryan Mbeumo scores in Man Utd's 2-1 win over Liverpool | Image via Manchester United official X (@ManUtd)