Man Utd stun Liverpool to deliver momentous win for Ruben Amorim

After so many false dawns, false hopes and even false No 9s, do Manchester United finally have lift-off under Ruben Amorim?

A first win away at Liverpool since 2016 is an extraordinary place to complete United’s first back-to-back victories in the Premier League under the Portuguese coach, but it will be the manner of it, as, much as the points, that will add to the euphoria.

For the champions this was, just as extraordinarily, a fourth defeat in a row. It was also the most damaging because it came at Anfield and because it was inflicted by United.

United’s match-winner was Harry Maguire – who missed a sitter when he had the chance to win this fixture last season – as Amorim’s side showed great resilience and belief after being hauled back by Liverpool.

Harry Maguire with a MASSIVE header to send the away end wild! 😱 pic.twitter.com/moUtr2aDsj

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 19, 2025

United had taken an early lead, after just 62 seconds, with Liverpool raging play should have stopped for a head injury to Alexis Mac Allister, who was accidentality elbowed by his own captain, Virgil van Dijk.

Michael Oliver, the referee, allowed the game to continue and Bryan Mbeumo ran on to catch out Van Dijk and finish superbly. Bruno Fernandes struck a post but, for Liverpool, Cody Gakpo hit the goal frame three times before, finally, drawing them level from close range. Even so the forward also missed when he had to score, heading wide.

GAKPO MAKES ANFIELD ERUPT!! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/NjbKxCa0Vt

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 19, 2025

It felt Liverpool, with their momentum, would go on and win although, tellingly, Mohamed Salah was substituted after missing a glorious chance he would have been expected to take. Again he looked out of sorts.

Instead it was United who scored, with Fernandes volleying the ball back into the area, after an Mbeumo shot from a corner was blocked, for Maguire to rise and head home, Ibrahima Konaté at fault this time.

"STAGGERING START!"

One minute on the clock and Mbeumo gives Man Utd the lead at Anfield! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/xOtXAcVYgp

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 19, 2025

Maguire was perhaps a surprise choice by Amorim at the heart of the United defence, but his selection was vindicated in a commanding display from the centre-half. Just as Amorim will also, at last, feel vindicated with his tactics and approach as he gained by far his biggest win at United.

More to follow

Fernandes on United’s system

Our shape always gives teams issues. It is a little bit ungrateful to talk about shape when we lose games and in the same way I am grateful to talk about it when we win. We always believe in the system, whether we win or lose, but it’s about doing the right things in the right moments.

We had moments we had to suffer and we did that in the game and the main thing is to do the same thing and believe what we prepare is what is going to give us the win.

Jamie Carragher on Liverpool’s set-piece weakness

The way the Premier League is style-wise, set pieces are big part of the game. Everyone is taking long throws and there are set pieces galore. Liverpool just can’t seem to cope.

We talk about the summer signings and integrating them into how Liverpool play, but has it affected them with set pieces? The full backs are quite small.

There’s no sort of great physical presence in there. Maybe it is hurting Liverpool, not just because of their football but also coping with set pieces.

Slot on Salah’s form

After games like this, it’s quite normal and usual that people are very focused on individual players. In the first five or six games it was about the signings we did, now it’s about Mo Salah.

We had more than enough chances to score. Mo missed a big one. Some others missed a big chances. We are not used to this. We needed a goal, but we needed a player who could create something in that end phase. That’s what Jeremie [Frimpong, who came on for Salah] did, he had a great action, crossed to Cody.

If we had been 3-0 up, Cody would have scored. I cannot guarantee this. So every player has tried everything. But it didn’t work out for us.

Slot speaking on Sky on gambling with his substitutions

Before that we created so many chances to score. Cody Gakpo twice off the post, Alexander Isak one-on-one with the goalkeeper. But if I look at the game back, maybe I forgot one or two chances.

The second half we started off quite well. If you have so many good players on the bench, you better use them. Especially if they are attacking players.

People might say: you’ve conceded one or two extra chances apart form the goal as well. Correct. That’s what we have to do. If you’re 1-0 down you have to take more risks than when you’re 1-0 up. If I take that into account that every time we have to fight back and the chances we concede, I can’t be too negative about that. Defending in a set piece at 1-1, it happened to us at Palace and again today, that is something we have to do.

Arne Slot speaking on Sky

If you play a United side that comes with a low block and comes with a long balls and you know it is going to be difficult. It makes it even more difficult if it is after one minute.

I think if you lose a game after you have lost four, you would have more emotion but there is no excuses. We need to focus on ourselves we had so many chances and we should score more, we should have defended better than we did.

I brought on substitutions to turn the game around and they created more opportunities. But you don’t have the same structure in defending and set pieces.

Amorim on his tactical approach

We just saw the game, I knew how important set pieces are, how important the guys with more experience are. Imagine if something happened at the beginning of the game against us? Harry Maguire has experience to help the other guys.

Konate and Van Dijk, they like confrontation. One of them goes to the ball, the other creates a second line. More or less all the transitions was Cunha. He was so far from the centre-backs and that helped us to take the ball.

Every time you play in this environment, if you [low] block well, especially in the beginning you can feel the fans turning.

We feel that in our stadium. All the big teams suffer from that. We tried to do that. I think we have to have more possession to help our players. They struggled in the end. But a good win, let’s focus on the next one.

It will give us more confidence in the week. It will give us a lot of pleasure to our fans who deserve it after Grimsby and Brentford.  To have a win like this is really important. That is on our hands. This game is the past, let’s focus on the future. Things will change in time.

Maguire speaking to the BBC about winning consecutive games

It’s embarrassing really. It’s not a stat that we should even be speaking about because it is an embarrassing stat to have. Now that’s out of the way let’s try and make it three [wins] on Saturday against Brighton, because we have to start putting a bit more consistency together. The last three or four years we’d put in a performance like this and the following game we come down again. We have set a bench mark, there are a lot of areas we can do more, we were hanging on there and defending for the last 30 minutes or so. “We’ll analyse it. The manager strives for perfection so I’m sure he will want us to play better than we did in the second half. Great fight, big spirit, big win, but again we have to go again.

Amorim’s verdict on the game

I think that was the biggest win in my time at Manchester United. It means a lot today but tomorrow it won’t mean a lot. It’s three points and it’s a good victory.

We fought for every ball, we lost our composure in the second half but the spirit was there and that is the most important thing, if you have the spirit you can win any game.

It was a good day and now I am concerned about Brighton. I will enjoy it but let’s focus on Brighton.

We just saw the game and knew how important our set pieces are and the guys that have more experiences are on in the beginning.

Every time we play in this environment well if you block well in the beginning you can feel the defence turning and we feel that in our stadium and all the big teams feel that. A good win.

It will give us more confidence through the week and pleasure to our fans, they deserve it and that is in our hands. This is in the past now it’s time to look at the future.

Fernandes: ‘The fans were booing them to play quicker’

We knew that we had to win our duels. In the first ten minutes we knew they would try to start the game very strong. Also in the first half we understood that they were under pressure when they had time on the ball, the fans were putting them in a difficult position and booing for them to play quicker.

We wanted to slow their game and we knew that would give massive spaces around the middle. In the second half we could have played a little bit more on the ball.

Van Dijk on the first goal

I think the ball went long, first header was a United player, second by me. My elbow hit the player and he goes down and I went down. That angle it was difficult to score and he did. There was plenty of football left to be played [and score] and we didn’t.

We need to stay humble and stay working and keep our confidence as high as possible. When things get tough, it is important we keep the mentality of being there for each other. It is a long season.

Van Dijk speaking on Sky

We conceded a very sloppy second goal after working so hard to get back into the game. We created opportunities.

Overall, if you look at the game we were far too rushed, made too many bad decisions and they were the moments when we were open when we lost the ball.

United were very patient, they did not press us high and left us on the ball. We made too many rash decisions.

We had the chances to win the game but the reality is we lost. It is an interesting time now, we have to stick together.

Maguire speaking on Sky

It means everything. They had had the better of us over the last few years and it’s not been good for our club. We have not given our fans enough days like today, so it has been a long time coming, coming to this ground and picking up three points.

It is not just three points to the club and to the boys. I have been coming to this ground for seven years now and to not get three points have been tough. It’s for the fans and I hope they had a great night tonight.

It is nice to have one over Liverpool. Football is all about memories and making special memories. I am sure all the fans will go home with memories, we will all go home happy.

Those United celebrations

Gary Neville’s words at full time

What a moment for Ruben Amorim. He needed something, the pressure was building but a win at Anfield is huge.

It’s a great place for Manchester United to win a game of football. It’s a big period coming up, the manager is under pressure and they pulled something out of the bag and they have to make sure this is the start of something.

A brutal run for Liverpool

4 - Liverpool have lost four consecutive games in all competitions for the first time since November 2014 under Brendan Rodgers. Sobering. pic.twitter.com/6X4zWswy21

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 19, 2025

FT: Liverpool 1 United 2

United have won back-to-back Premier League games for the first time under Amorim and have won a league game at Anfield for the first time since 2016. Undoubtedly their best day under Amorim, and they are now just two points behind the champions.

It was another madcap contest involving Liverpool, but for the third successive league match Arne Slot’s team have come out on the wrong side of it. Liverpool are now four points behind Arsenal.

98 minutes: Liverpool 1 United 2

Liverpool free-kick just inside their own half, and they are going to launch the ball forward.

Szoboszlai’s pass was poor and then the flag goes up for offside.

97 minutes: Liverpool 1 United 2

Dangerous ball into the United box but Gakpo dummied it, and Cunha was able to carry the ball away from the penalty area and win a foul from Ekitike. By the time Lammens takes the free-kick long, there is only 30 seconds on the clock. But stoppage time is a minimum of eight minutes.

96 minutes: Liverpool 1 United 2

Attack against defence around the United penalty but Dalot slides in well against Gakpo. Then United head a Chiesa cross away. Sesko is back in his own penalty defending.

Nice feet from Wirtz in the box, but Ugarte blocks Kerkez’s driven cross.

95 minutes: Liverpool 1 United 2

Frimpong wants a foul near the corner flag against Dorgu with the linesman right in front of it. The Kop are not happy, there was a hand on the back. Nothing given.

94 minutes: Liverpool 1 United 2

Liverpool rush an attack with an overhit pass to Gakpo which runs through for a United goal kick. Remarkably, United will move within two points of Liverpool if they hang on here.

93 minutes: Liverpool 1 United 2

Some pinball in the United box, but the pressure is relieved when Kerkez chips a cross into Lammens’s gloves. Not for the first time this afternoon, groans from the home fans towards their left-back.

92 minutes: Liverpool 1 United 2

In the mayhem, I missed that Amorim has brought on Yoro in place of Luke Shaw. Some extra height in the box.

Liverpool deliver a corner, but it is too heavy despite Dorgu kicking fresh air.

The home team try again, and a cross flicks behind for Maguire for another corner.

90 minutes: Liverpool 1 United 2

Frimpong with another dangerous cross that Dalot turns behind for the corner. Van Dijk and the rest are all up.

It was not the most commanding from Lammens, but he did enough to palm the ball away from danger.

There will be EIGHT minutes of stoppage time to play.

88 minutes: Liverpool 1 United 2

Now De Ligt heads over from a good position at the other end! Liverpool are see-sawing between threatening to score and threatening to concede. Still time to play. Frimpong replaced Salah who was below par again.

There’s a craziness about every Liverpool game at the moment. Their latest calamity began with the unnecessary long throw back to the keeper. United are in dreamland now. 

86 minutes: Liverpool 1 United 2

What a game this has been, a throwback in some ways.

Gakpo then misses a sitter! Frimpong, not on as a sub, chips a cross to Gakpo six yards out, entirely unamarked but he heads wide.

Do not rule out another goal.

GOOOAAALLL! Maguire buries a header for United

The man who missed a golden chance to win this fixture last season may just have done the trick this year.

The corner was taken short to Mbeumo, and his initial shot was blocked, but the ball fell straight to Fernandes who looped a delightful, side-foot volley to the back post.

United had men over, and Maguire was free as a bird to nod into the far corner. What a sucker punch.

Harry Maguire with a MASSIVE header to send the away end wild! 😱 pic.twitter.com/moUtr2aDsj

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 19, 2025

83 minutes: Liverpool 1 United 1

United throw a punch back at Liverpool with Sesko and Fernandes combining to find Cunha in the box. Szoboszlai stands up well to defend at the expense of a corner.

80 minutes: Liverpool 1 United 1

Still plenty of time to play and the Kop are roaring Liverpool forward with every opportunity. That sense of chaos cost them at Selhurst Park and Stamford Bridge but could it yield a winner this time? Frimpong was going to come on, but has sat back down.

It was coming. United have not been great in the second half. Could be carnage last ten minutes now...

GOOOAAALLL! Gakpo finally gets his goal to level

Sheer persistence from Van Dijk, and then Ekitike and Wirtz to keep the ball alive for Liverpool, and Chiesa pulled out to the left side of the penalty box into space. The Italian fed a ball into the six-yard box and Gakpo was there for a tap-in. Dorgu’s attempted block was playing the Liverpool man onside.

GAKPO MAKES ANFIELD ERUPT!! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/NjbKxCa0Vt

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 19, 2025

77 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

Enterprising run towards the penalty area from Curtis Jones, but his left-footed shot does not trouble Lammens. Then Konate mops up well at the back after a nifty turn from Mbeumo.

Szoboszlai then feeds Salah in the box with a cute pass but Dorgu did well to get a foot in. Liverpool corner.

Gakpo meets it first, but the ball deflects behind for another corner.

74 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

Fernandes caught on the ball in midfield from a Maguire pass, and Liverpool charge towards the United box. Luke Shaw won a crucial sliding challenge and the ricochet went United’s way. Moments earlier, Salah was in a promising position but he rolled a harmless cross straight into the gloves of Lammens.

71 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

Liverpool on the attack again, but Dalot wins his header from Szoboszlai’s cross before Lammens made a meal of catching the looping ball. Eventually, the United goalkeeper made sure it was in his grasp.

Another Liverpool change: Isak off, Chiesa on.

Isak has been pretty quiet, aside from the first-half chance which Lammens saved.

68 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

Liverpool with a more patient spell of possession after those few minutes of haywire football, but Van Dijk’s pass towards Gakpo goes astray and out for a throw in. Then Dalot defends well to intercept a through ball towards Ekitke.

Then Cunha helps United counter-attack, but Fernandes was on his heels from Fernandes ‘cutback.

Before you know it, Liverpool are 5v5 with the United defence but Ekitke whips a shot wide of the far post from 25 yards.

65 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

Salah misses a great chance! Liverpool commit seven or eight players into the United box after good midfield work from Wirtz, but Salah screwed the shot wide when he had time to control and set himself at the back post.

At the other end, Van Dijk slices Dorgu’s cross straight into the face of Kerkez and the ball bounces over the bar. Liverpool deal with the corner.

United have not really shown up in the second half so far. The worry for Liverpool is even their attack is malfunctioning now. They have created plenty of chances.

63 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

Gary Neville on Sky sounds bullish that United will get chances in transition against a central midfield of Curtis Jones and Florian Wirtz. Liverpool have turned the dial to 11 with those attacking changes.

Ekitke with a slalom run inside from the left, but he shoots over from distance. The Kop are encouraged though.

61 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

Subs everywhere: Benjamin Sesko has replaced Mason Mount for United, with Wirtz, Ekitike and Curtis Jones replacing Mac Allister, Gravenberch and Conor Bradley.

That means Szoboszlai to right-back with a front four of Gakpo, Isak, Ekitike and Salah.

Slot has well and truly rolled the dice.

60 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

Great work from Cunha to hold the ball under pressure with two or three red shirts hanging off him, but United’s attack rather fizzled out. They have not really looked like scoring the second so far in the second half.

Then Mac Allister shoots over with a snap shot under pressure from the United defence after some nice interplay with Szoboszlai.

58 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

Casemiro’s race is run: he hacks down Mohamed Salah at the expense of a yellow card, and then stays down with cramp.

Amorim quickly replaces him with Manuel Ugarte, and Patrick Dorgu is also on for Amad. That is a little unfortunate for Amad, but he is on a yellow and United will have lots of defending to do from here.

55 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

The Kop trying to give Liverpool a push after a speculative Isak shot deflects behind for another corner. De Ligt goes down pleading a push, and United get the decision much to the chagrin of Arne Slot. United have ticked off the first 10 minutes of the half, but a long way to go.

Kerkez had the chance to run away from Amad there, but he was caught in possession. Groans from the home fans.

53 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

Amad has been booked for catching Gakpo with the follow-through but he won the ball as cleanly as you will ever see. He pretty muck kicked the ball 30 yards downfield, but Michael Oliver showed him the Liverpool card. Very harsh.

Maguire heads behind for a corner, from which Salah scuffed a volley at the back post up and over the bar.

50 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

How unlucky has Gakpo been today?! For the third time this afternoon, the Dutch forward strikes the post, and this was another cracking effort.

Isak was fouled, and a free-kick was clipped to the back post. The ball dropped for Gakpo, who chopped inside and unleashed a shot that cannoned off the woodwork.

To make matters worse for Liverpool, Gravenberch is down after a nasty ankle twist.

If Gakpo hits the post once more today does he get to keep it?

48 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

United made a mess of the free-kick, taken short before Fernandes was robbed off the ball. From there, the red arrows were flying forward on the break but Luke Shaw covered well to get his body between Gakpo and the ball.

47 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

Conor Bradley played into a promising position inside the box but he stumbled when trying a Cruyff turn rather than drilling a cross through the six-yard box.

The Fernandes wins a foul from Gakpo to earn United a free-kick in the Liverpool half. Around 40 to 45 yards out, a crossing position left of centre.

We are back under way!

Liverpool get the second half started, shooting towards the Kop. And straight away they kick long into bodies looking to build early pressure.

The players are back out

Looks like no changes from either manager at half time.

Who would have answered Nicky Butt in a pub quiz?

2 - This is only the second time that there has been a goal within the opening two minutes of a Premier League game between Liverpool and Manchester United, after Nicky Butt for the Red Devils at Old Trafford in October 1995. Stunned. pic.twitter.com/cKrYyj2kAg

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) October 19, 2025

Another chaotic half from Liverpool

Amorim will feel United could have scored three in that first half, and while Liverpool had their chances they are playing amid an air of panic which borders on the bizarre for a side that demonstrated such control last season. Would not be a surprise to see Slot make early changes again. It’s been a theme of recent weeks.

HT: Liverpool 0 United 1

A thoroughly entertaining first 45 minutes and the game could easily be 2-2 or perhaps 2-3.

It has been almost the dream half from United, who have caused Liverpool real headaches again just like last season in this fixture. The Anfield crowd are nervous whenever the likes of Fernandes, Mount, Amad, Cunha and Mbeumo have touches around their penalty area. Fernandes should have made it two, shooting wide when entirely unopposed.

That said, Liverpool could easily have scored at least one themselves: Gakpo hit the post with a great effort before Lammens denied Isak.

More of the same, please.

45 minutes+2: Liverpool 0 United 1

I think we’ll call that “clever” from Casemiro, who collapses in the box to win United a free-kick. Lammens will go long and the away team can shift up the pitch.

45 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

A clearance drops favourably for United right at the feet of Fernandes, and he spins a pass into the right channel for Mbeumo to chase. Van Dijk puts the ball out for a throw.

De Ligt then does likewise at the other end.

Four minutes of stoppage time to play.

Liverpool have a corner. Amad dilligent against Gakpo to block the cross.

43 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

United are enjoying another good spell and there are murmurs of discontent from the Anfield crowd. All a little too easy for the United players to string passes together in midfield. When Liverpool do come forward, Luke Shaw wins an important defensive header.

40 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

From that free-kick, United whipped a low cross to the near post, and Gakpo sliced a clearance over the head of his goalkeeper but on to the roof of the net. That was perilously close to a spectacular own goal.

From the corner, Fernandes sticks one right under the bar and Konate saves the day with Mamardashvili rooted on his line. 

Another United corner, but the delivery is poor from Mbeumo.

38 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

Liverpool enjoying some territorial dominance and set-pieces but United are standing firm in their box. De Ligt with a booming header. Van Dijk heads into the arms of Lammens from a tight angle, and then Liverpool want a free-kick for handball after the goalkeeper appeared to drop the ball and then handle it again. Nothing doing.

Nice skill from Fernandes to let the ball run across his body and win a foul from Szoboszlai.

35 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

Big save from Lammens! He stretches out a right leg to deny Isak, who was sent clean through in the right channel by Konate’s pass. You were just waiting for the net to bulge there, but Isak will have to wait for his big moment.

34 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

Gakpo hits the post again! Though this time it was a miscued cross, but Lammens was beaten and United were fortunate the ball did not rebound to a red shirt. Then Salah’s header from a tight angle is caught by Lammens.

32 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

Amorim’s formation is causing Liverpool’s back four problems; Kerkez jumped to Amad there, with Mbeumo left completely free with Van Dijk unwilling to press out that far. Liverpool could have equalised through Gakpo, but United might feel they deserve two goals from this first half.

Crowd audibly jittery whenever Kerkez is in possession in his own half - or is attacked by Diallo. Any hope the cobwebs of Liverpool’s new signings would have been shaken off during the international break are currently premature.  Keeper Mamardashvili obviously nervous, too.

29 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

This fixture has underwhelmed at times, but not today. This time it was Liverpool with a half-chance from the edge of the box, but Isak did not connect properly and dragged the effort wide. You expect better from him.

26 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

There will surely be more goals in this, plenty of space on offer for both teams. Konate feeds a pass straight through United’s midfield into Szoboszlai, but Mac Allister’s shot was tame.

Then United go on the attack again, with Mamardashvili spilling a cross which did not quite drop for Mount in the six-yard box.

More chaos in the Liverpool defence! They almost poke the ball straight into the path of Mbeumo six yards from goal but Mamardashvili wins it with a sliding challenge, before Mount stings the palms of the goalkeeper with a shot from the edge of the box.

Liverpool looking shaky.

23 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

Unconvincing football from United in their own defensive third, with some scuffed passes and heavy touches, but they manage to get out.

Cunha picks out Amad with a great pass, and the wing-back keeps his head to tee up Fernandes at the edge of the box.

United’s captain was untracked and had time to take aim, but his shot whistled the wrong side of the post. Not enough whip.

20 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

Loose pass out for a United throw from Kerkez but then Konate eases Mount aside.

Then Dalot loses possession, and Liverpool storm forward on the break.

Salah with a raking pass into the path of Gakpo who pushed the ball inside the flat-footed De Ligt with one touch, but his effort curled around Lammens and back off the post! Gakpo did everything but score.

Liverpool’s best moment so far. And in the 20th minute, chants in honour of Diogo Jota ring around Anfield.

18 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

That was more menacing from Liverpool, Isak and Salah combining near the right corner of the penalty area, but Shaw got a toe to the ball to send it back to Lammens.

Then United’s front two are too easily bypassed with Mamardashvili feeding a pass into Gravenberch who turns into space.

Liverpool then have a loud appeal for a penalty for handball against Amad! He blocked Gakpo’s cross but the ball struck the arm that was tucked into his body. The other arm was extended and raised. He would have been in trouble had the ball hit that arm.

15 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

United are looking tenacious when it comes to competing for second balls in midfield, Liverpool are unable to build up much momentum at the moment despite the best efforts of their fans. United retreat into a 5-4-1 and from a diagonal pass to the right, Salah’s control lets him down.

From there, United stitch together some passes and find Amad free with a switch but he cannot find a telling cross.

13 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

De Ligt penalised for handball, which gives Liverpool the chance to deliver a cross into the box. It was a lovely, sweeping cross to the back post from Salah towards Van Dijk who had the run on the United defenders but he could not direct his header towards goal.

11 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

The referee stops the game after the ball hits him in the shin. The home crowd are not best pleased. The United win a free-kick, from which they clip a diagonal into the box towards Maguire. Liverpool deal with it. Gravenberch then gets them playing by settling things down.

9 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

The ball slips out of Kerkez’s hand and he is called for a foul throw. Where is Rory Delap’s towel when you need it? The Anfield crowd urge Liverpool forward, and Kerkez surges into the box, but De Ligt shuffled across and did enough to user the ball behind for a goal kick. Some contact with the Liverpool left-back but not enough for a penalty.

7 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

Wonderful pass from the Liverpool goalkeeper Mamardashvili, over Amad’s head and into the path of Gakpo but Maguire was in the right place to clear the low cross. Watching replays of the goal, it looked like Van Dijk wanted Konate to cover across behind him as he let Mbeumo one.

5 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 1

More on that Mac Allister head injury: Van Dijk’s elbow caught him in the back of the head as the pair challenged Mbeumo in the air. He has had the cut bandaged up and is now wearing something that looks like a swimming cap over his head. Mac Allister is fit to continue. The game is set up a treat now.

Sky saying the referee did not see the injury.

Peter Drury at Anfield:

“The word we are getting from the match centre is that the referee didn’t see the injury and therefore couldn’t stop the game.”

Sky Sports’ Jamie Carragher:

“He was on the floor holding his head.”

“I think a lot of players have taken advantage of the head injury rule. There was a situation in the Arsenal game yesterday where Arsenal were unfortunate when the Fulham player went down and I’m surprised Michael Oliver hasn’t pulled that back with a head injury.”

Premier League Match Centre have confirmed: “Van Dijk made contact with Mac Allister and then play continued. So it’s not a foul so VAR cannot intervene. It is then purely down to the referee’s reading of the game and he has not stopped the game.”

Looked like Mac Allister was taken out by a combination of Van Dijk and Mbeumo. Konate played the United forward onside. Liverpool’s search for a clean sheet this season is turning into the pursuit of the holy grail.

GOOOAAALLL! Mbeumo gives United with 61 seconds on the clock

Mac Allister is down in the middle of the pitch with a head injury after clashing with his own man Van Dijk, and Mbeumo ran off the back of the Liverpool captain. Amad picked out his run with a cute outside of the foot pass, and the former Brentford man lifted the ball over Mamardashvili to score. Great finish, and an explosive start.

"STAGGERING START!"

One minute on the clock and Mbeumo gives Man Utd the lead at Anfield! 🤯 pic.twitter.com/xOtXAcVYgp

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 19, 2025

1 minutes: Liverpool 0 United 0

United with some early possession in the Liverpool half but they are harried back to the goalkeeper Lammens who then kicks long.

KICK OFF!

United get the game started to the sound of boos from the Anfield crowd.

Salt in the wound

Scousers rule the country like we’ve always done before,” reads the Kop banner. Plenty of bragging rights after equalling Manchester United’s title haul.

The players are in the tunnel

And the two teams emerge to chants of “bring on the champions!” from the home crowd. It remains grey overhead on Merseyside but it looks like the rain has relented.

Slot on Liverpool’s form

I cannot blame our players that they don’t work hard, they give everything they have every single time. Both games we were a goal down and both games we came back so that is not the issue. I cannot say work harder or make more tackles, no no no.

There are one or two moments in the game that at this moment kills us. We have watched Sesko play the last four, five, six times and they come to Liverpool and change the line up. It could mean different things, maybe Mount as a 10. We will find out when the game starts.

Amorim interesting on not picking Sesko

I said the same thing against Brentford, the next game is the most important, it can be the one that changes the mindset of everyone. If we start thinking one game is more important than another one, that is the biggest mistake we can make and one we made for a while.

I think Konate and Van Dijk likes the confrontation in their air so we try to give them different things [on starting Cunha as a nominal forward with Sesko on the bench].

Jamie Carragher speaking on Sky about Salah’s form

I think right now, as well, Salah needs to do more in terms of output. There’s there’s no doubt about that. The one slight worry I have with Salah is, we’ve seen this before, where he goes five six games, doesn’t look at his best, and then he’ll score a couple of goals – fingers crossed that happens today.

But normally, that’s towards the end of the season. He normally comes flying off the blocks, especially when he’s had the summer off. And I was expecting that this season, especially on the back of Liverpool signing Isak, Wirtz and them grabbing the headlines.

You can now read his Telegraph Sport column on that very subject.

Peter Schmeichel greeting United’s players in the tunnel

Ekitike unlucky to be a sub... Wirtz less so

No Florian Wirtz in successive starting line-ups versus Chelsea and now Manchester United is a rather telling statement on his early impact, or lack of. Those insisting the £116m signing has been better than a lack of goals or assists suggest have been rather disingenuous. Wirtz might come good – possibly as a substitute today – but his underwhelming start explains why he is on the bench. Hugo Ekitite can consider himself unlucky to be a sub, but record signing Alexander Isak has to catch fire sooner rather than later.

A look at the team news

Slot has stuck with the team that started Liverpool’s loss at Chelsea. Bradley and Kerkez stay in the team as full-backs, Isak is preferred to Ekitike while Mac Allister, Gravenberch and Szoboszlai are reunited in midfield. Wirtz is only on the bench, but it means Liverpool have strong options.

A touch surprising not to see Sesko in the United XI. Amorim has made a bold selection though by starting Amad at right wing-back; perhaps that says something about how opponents view Kerkez. Fernandes is in a deeper midfield role again, with Ugarte and Mainoo on the bench. Maguire is preferred to Yoro.

Fans greet the Liverpool team bus

United team news

📣 Your United XI for today's trip to Anfield 👇

— Manchester United (@ManUtd) October 19, 2025

Liverpool team news

Team news is IN for #LIVMUN 🔴

— Liverpool FC (@LFC) October 19, 2025

Are Liverpool under-powered?

Chris Bascombe writes that the revival of more direct approaches in the Premier League is exposing a lack of physicality in Liverpool’s team. Their full-back signings Milos Kerkez and Jeremie Frimpong are slighter than, for instance, Arsenal’s options in the same positions. Will United look to prey on that today?

Matthijs de Ligt exclusive interview

De Ligt is discussing coming into his prime at 26, how United are improving even if “data doesn’t count...”, his belief they can fight for a Champions League place this season, the debate over that formation and how he and Ruben Amorim are “direct” with each other.

Indeed, there is much to talk about and a lot of ground to cover as De Ligt sits down at the club’s training ground for what is his first major interview since he joined United in August 2024 from Bayern Munich for a fee of up to £42.8m.

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Reasons for both Liverpool and United to be nervous

Had Liverpool vs Manchester United been played a month ago the reigning Premier League champions would have been expected to dispatch Ruben Amorim’s team with the minimum fuss.

Instead, after the three consecutive defeats which preceded the international break, Liverpool have some questions to answer and now trail league leaders Arsenal by four points.

The most important of those questions is how Arne Slot balances the lavish attacking talent at his disposal with a need for greater defensive stability. Does he revert to last season’s midfield trio at the expense of Florian Wirtz? Does he have a truly convincing pair of full-backs? Can Alexander Isak and Mohamed Salah thrive in the same team?

United should be encouraged by their performance in a 2-2 draw in this fixture last season, in which they played probably the best football of Amorim’s tenure. Kobbie Mainoo was progressive in midfield that day, with Bruno Fernandes starting as the “left 10” in Amorim’s system. This season though, Mainoo has struggled for starts with Fernandes operating deeper. Will Amorim look to reprise last season’s formula?

Liverpool remain without first-choice goalkeeper Alisson but it looks like Ibrahima Konate and Ryan Gravenberch are fit to start after injury scares during the international break. With the exception of Lisandro Martinez, United have a clean bill of health so there is the option of starting summer signings Bryan Mbeumo, Benjamin Sesko and Matheus Cunha together in the front three. There is certainly enough running power and talent there to cause Liverpool problems. Much will depend on how United’s midfield pair copes; it was too easy for City to manipulate and out-number them in their last big game at the Etihad.

It has been almost a decade since United’s last league win at Anfield, when Wayne Rooney scored the game’s only goal.

Full team news on the way shortly.