Manchester United Finally Win at Anfield – 9 Years Later; United 2 – 0 Sunderland
Pre-Match Build-Up and Lineup Analysis
Excitement and nerves, that’s what Manchester United vs Liverpool brings every time, and this match had it all. This is one of the biggest games in world football, a rivalry filled with history, tension, and raw passion. Even though United have struggled for consistency lately while Liverpool have been racking up trophies and just won the Premier League last season, anything can happen when these two meet. Liverpool spent over £400 million in the summer transfer window, adding big names like Florian Wirtz and Alexander Isak, but despite their star power, they looked shaky from the start. Every win felt fragile, with the defense conceding too many goals and never feeling as solid as expected. Leading up to the match, Liverpool were coming off three straight losses in all competitions, while United had just squeezed past Sunderland. The main question on every fan’s mind was simple: could United grab something at Anfield, even just a hard-fought draw, or maybe even pull off a shock win? With Liverpool looking unsure and inconsistent, it felt possible.
All week, my excitement kept building, but the mood shifted as soon as the lineup dropped. No Sesko, Dorgu, or Yoro. Amorim started Cunha up front, flanked by Mount and Mbeumo as the dual number 10s. The midfield had Casemiro and Bruno, with Dalot pushed into left wing-back and Amad starting on the right. The back three was Shaw, Maguire, and De Ligt, and Lammens got the nod in goal. What really frustrated me was seeing Dalot at left wing-back. The rest of Amorim’s choices made sense, but that one just killed my mood an hour before kickoff. Benching Sesko, despite his two goals in two games, was understandable tactically. You can’t drop Mount after his man-of-the-match showing against Sunderland, and Cunha is the emotional heartbeat of the team, made for these big games. He might not have goals or assists yet, which is frustrating, but his energy is vital and brings out a fighting spirit. With Cunha, Mount, and Mbeumo, United could set up more defensively and crowd the midfield; it made sense. Playing Bruno next to Casemiro in midfield was expected and safe. The backline had one mystery: no Yoro from the start, even though he was excellent in the last game. Shaw and Maguire got the nod, perhaps for Maguire’s experience and aerial power. If it were up to me, Yoro would start at left center-back, but the selection wasn’t surprising. The reaction on X was exactly what you’d expect: plenty of frustration, but in the end, it was time to support the team.
Match Action and Key Moments
The match couldn’t have started better. Within two minutes, Amad slipped a perfect through ball to Mbeumo, who finished with confidence and celebrated right in front of the Kop with Salah’s celebration. Old-school Anfield silence, all the momentum with United. Right away, United’s game plan became clear, soak up pressure, win the second balls, and hit Liverpool on the counter. Amad stayed lively, threading a clever pass to Bruno for another golden chance, only for the captain to hit the post. It should have been two-nil, but luck wasn’t on our side. Meanwhile, Liverpool threw their best at us, with Gakpo twice hitting the woodwork and looking the main danger.
Mount, solid defensively, just couldn’t get involved in attack. In the middle, the setup worked. As the second half opened, United tried to threaten on the break but struggled to create anything really clear. Still, the defense held strong and Liverpool couldn’t carve out many big moments. The breakthrough for Liverpool came out of nowhere. In the 78th minute, Chiesa played a dangerous pass into a crowded box that somehow fell to Gakpo for a simple tap-in. It was gutting, 1-1 with less than fifteen minutes left, and it felt like all the hard work might go to waste. But just minutes later, Cunha stepped up, carrying the ball and forcing a corner. Quick thinking, Mbeumo’s long-range shot was blocked, the ball broke kindly to Bruno, and he whipped in a beautiful cross. There at the back post was Maguire, rising above everyone to power home a header. Pure chaos, United leading 2-1 at Anfield with just minutes to go.
Now it was about managing the lead. Liverpool pushed, and Frimpong whipped in a cross to Gakpo, who seemed certain to score, but his header went wide. Relief all around. Liverpool threw everything forward in the eight minutes of added time, but United stood firm. No more late drama.
Post-Match Reflections and Player Reviews
If I had to pick out a weak spot, Dalot at left wing-back was a real worry. Every clearance seemed to end up with a Liverpool player, and his defending felt shaky. He improved after switching sides, but overall, his performance was poor. Amad only came off because of his yellow card, and Amorim would have kept him on the pitch longer if it weren’t for that card. Mount struggled to make an impact going forward but did his job defensively. The late cameos from Sesko and Yoro were very solid. Amad, Mbeumo, and Bruno all looked sharp. Lammens was reliable in goal, and even though Cunha didn’t score or assist, his passion drove the team. But the true hero was Maguire, often criticized, he stood tall and delivered a match-winning goal in one of our biggest games in years.
This was United’s first win at Anfield since 2016, almost a full decade. Credit to Amorim and the squad, despite all the pre-match criticism. Finally, back-to-back league wins in the Premier League, and the pressure on Amorim eases a bit. Next up is Brighton, always a tricky opponent, but for now, I’m just happy. United did it at Anfield. Till next time, YANITED YANITED YANITED.
UNITED SCRIPTED. 
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