Liverpool 1-2 Manchester United: Harry Maguire scored the late winner at home as the champions suffered a heavy defeat at Anfield, dropping them to four straight defeats.
Manchester United handed the reigning champions their fourth consecutive defeat in all competitions, deepening manager Harry Maguire’s dark clouds surrounding Liverpool.
Defender Maguire scored the winner from Bruno Fernandes’ cross six minutes after the end of a frenetic match at Anfield, giving United their first win at home to their rivals since 2016.
The hosts had wanted the game abandoned due to a head injury to Alexis Mac Allister, but Brian Mbeumo ran in behind the defense and easily beat Giorgi Mamadashvili, giving United the lead after just 63 seconds.
read more: Sky Sports admits referee did not stop Liverpool vs. Man United due to head injuryread more: Premier League match center issues updated as Liverpool deny penalty against Manchester United
Shaken, Liverpool often struggled to find link-up after such an early attack, but Kodi Gakpo slammed twice into the crates before Fernandes chipped at the opposite post as United searched for a second goal.
However, Liverpool reversed in the second half, with Gakpo hitting the post again and Mo Salah missing a great chance before substitute Federico Chiesa crossed for Gakpo to score from close range.
It looked like this was going to be the start of Liverpool’s onslaught, but Fernandes replaced Maguire with a cross and headed home in front of the enthusiastic away fans. The main topics of the game are:
1. Dive headlong into the controversy.
It wasn’t quiet by any means, but I didn’t expect it to get loud so quickly. With less than a minute remaining, Virgil van Dijk, Mbeumo and Mac Allister all scored and the Argentine players were clearly over the worst.
Liverpool’s number 10 was still face down on the grass when Amad Diallo played the ball forward to a prowling Mbeumo. As is normally expected in this situation, there were moments when it looked like coach Van Dijk was expecting the game to stop. But that wasn’t the case.
Mbeumo continued his run and pushed his shot wide of Mamadashvili, but Mamadashvili should have done better and United were free to celebrate the unconventional goal.
Were Liverpool guilty of not playing until the whistle, or not fully concentrating? Perhaps, but they weren’t exactly in safe possession when Mac Allister, who needed a scrum cap after treatment, was hit by the captain. Usually the game will stop in this situation.
2. Manchester United are coming to the game
We obviously know what the formation will be, but who plays that position makes a big difference. Ruben Amorim’s famous 3-4-3 here featured Amad at right wing-back and Fernandes as far forward as possible from midfield.
It paid off against a disjointed Liverpool side in the first half. Indeed, they were lucky not to concede a goal. He did it again with a cross that was deflected, especially after Gakpo’s fluid movement ended up hitting the post.
It was clear that Amorim had made the right decision to target Liverpool’s left-back Milos Kerkes via Amad and Mbeumo, and United could have easily grabbed a second goal when they were on top, coming closest when Fernandes grazed the post.
3. Liverpool are struggling in attack.
Liverpool didn’t perform as well as we know offensively, but they were also very unlucky in front of goal. Gakpo in particular was unbelievably unlucky, hitting the post three times before the start of the second half and making some shocking mistakes in the second half.
The third shot, which hit the woodwork, was a great effort on the turn and looked to be the trigger for a second-half onslaught, as the Reds stepped up a gear and pushed an increasingly reluctant United back.
This led to manager Arne Slott’s big call to keep Mo Salah, Alexander Isak and Gakpo on the pitch and bring in Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike. He was going to be penniless. It didn’t work. He then sent off Isak and Salah in another inconvenient match.
4. Mateus Cunha stands tall
United may have struggled to find their footing in attack as Liverpool turned things around, but one player who didn’t shy away from anything was Matheus Cunha.
After starting as a central attacker, the Brazilian held the ball well and at one point it looked like the ball was sticking to him. He then moved further down the field by bringing on Benjamin Sesco for Mason Mount and was responsible for everything United succeeded from there. He looks like exactly the type of player the club needs.
5. Four consecutive defeats for Liverpool, this is the most painful.
This was Liverpool’s fourth consecutive defeat, and this was probably the most painful.
The Reds’ season is in danger of collapsing with his latest loss, but not just because of the arrival of their arch-rival.
The rift here could have been canceled out with a point, but the champions have a weakness that teams regularly exploit, and United did so here with aplomb.
The result could prove to be a revealing moment for Amorim and his team, who, despite riding on a bit of luck at times, have brought in players capable of delivering the kind of dedication they have lacked up until now.
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