Manchester United were deserving winners at Anfield. Their game plan was clearer than Liverpool’s and it paid off. At the same time, Manchester United were also lucky winners as the expected goals (xG) shows. Liverpool’s xG was 3.20, United’s was 1.34. Simplified, that means that the hosts should have won the match.
Of course, they didn’t. That’s what matters most right now. Arne Slot’s team wasted their chances and United grabbed a famous three points in what is Ruben Amorim’s finest moment as manager so far. But those at Old Trafford are under no illusions that much work still needs to be done despite this triumph.
Psychologically the victory is huge. A first win at Anfield since 2016 and against the reigning Premier League champions too. United get to toast their first ever back-to-back league victories under Amorim while simultaneously piling the misery on their bitter rivals who have now lost four in a row.
Yet while it’s true United deserved to win – because the chances Liverpool created were a product of individual ability rather than a more sustainable product of their system and tactics, whereas the Red Devils had a game plan and executed it – it can also be true that they were lucky to win.
Why? Because Cody Gakpo missed an absolute sitter to equalise after Harry Maguire’s goal. Mohamed Salah somehow missed the target altogether with an earlier opportunity. Gakpo also hit the post three times. Hugo Ekitike went close. And this was what an out-of-sorts Liverpool side, not a Liverpool team at the peak of their powers, conjured up.
That in itself is a warning sign for United in the long term. There were certainly still harbingers of concern – like how was Gakpo given an uncontested header for that late chance after United went 2-1 up when there were nine white shirts inside the 18-yard box? – and they must not be ignored for Amorim to truly use this as a springboard.
“Back-to-back wins is fantastic, but they have to kick on,” was Roy Keane’s warning post match. Gary Neville similarly said: “They can’t get carried away with this now. They have to go and beat Brighton next Saturday. They should be really proud because it’s a big achievement but they’ve got to kick on from here.”
Could this be the platform for United to finally build momentum under Amorim? Yes, because of how big it feels to win at Anfield. Just as easily, though, this could be a false dawn. As the performance against Arsenal was. As the win over Chelsea was. That is what the United players and staff must be acutely aware of in training this week and when preparing for the next game.
This is not to dampen spirits at a time when the Red Devils should celebrate and enjoy a massive win. This victory buys Amorim time, it puts a stop to the sack talk – at least for a little while – and instils vital fresh belief in him and his methods. But United must also be cautious.
This was the prime example of how Amorim’s tactics can work. But it is still an exception to the rule right now – and he needs to now prove his plan works, consistently, when United are the team expected to dominate and expected to win a match. There are only so many games in the season where they will be underdogs and can play as such, like at Anfield.
There is no excuse for United not to go on a run of form now. Their immediate fixtures are winnable, they have confidence from back-to-back victories, there are few injuries and they have week-long breaks between matches.
Now is the time where Amorim must truly be judged. United need another encouraging performance against Brighton and a win would do wonders for the confidence in the project. After all, they’ve lost all of their last three Old Trafford meetings with the Seagulls. Victory would be a fresh injection of belief that maybe, just maybe, Amorim can reawaken the giant after all.
