It took 11 months and 35 games for this moment to arrive. Rúben Amorim once described his Manchester United side as “maybe” the worst in the club’s history. He questioned his future, endured intense criticism, and only survived after minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe publicly backed him.
Then came Anfield — the perfect setting for redemption. Against their fiercest rivals, United finally looked like a team reborn.
A victory forged in character and control
This was not another lucky escape, like last December’s win at Manchester City. From the start, United played with structure, hunger, and discipline. Bryan Mbeumo’s early goal gave them belief, and they defended as one when Liverpool pressed harder.
When Cody Gakpo equalised in the 78th minute, the old United might have folded. Instead, they went again. Bruno Fernandes delivered a brilliant cross, and Harry Maguire rose high to score the winner. Amorim admitted his side had “some luck,” but this was a triumph built on desire.
The result ended a nine-year wait for victory at Anfield and marked back-to-back league wins for the first time under Amorim. “The biggest win in my time at Manchester United,” the 40-year-old said with relief and pride.
For a few moments, Amorim joined the 3,000 away fans in wild celebration. It was a release of months of tension — and a glimpse of what could be possible again.
Later, when reminded of his “storm is coming” line from last December’s win over Everton, Amorim smiled. “I have no idea if it has passed,” he said. “If we show this spirit every day, we’ll win many games. But we must keep working. It’s been a good day. Now we move on to Brighton.”
The road ahead still uncertain
Amorim knows one win does not fix everything. Even optimistic supporters, like Frank Ilett, who promised himself a haircut after five straight victories, might wait a while longer. United’s next games — Brighton, Nottingham Forest, and Tottenham — will show whether this was a turning point or another false dawn.
In the past two seasons, United have taken no points from those fixtures. Former captain Roy Keane offered a familiar warning. “The players will be in a better place now,” he said. “But this must be a springboard.”
Harry Maguire, who enjoyed his first win at Anfield, echoed the feeling. “We haven’t given the fans enough days like this,” he said. “Football is about memories. Today we go home happy — but we can’t get carried away.”
Maguire’s story mirrors United’s fightback. When Ten Hag dropped him and took away the captaincy, he stayed and fought. He turned down West Ham, won back his place under Amorim, and even agreed to a potential pay cut to extend his stay.
“This club carries huge pressure,” said Amorim. “Harry is vital for us. After all he’s faced, he’s an example for every young player.”
A fragile calm, but hope returns
Amorim still walks a fine line. Another defeat against Brighton — which would be United’s fourth in a row at Old Trafford — could revive the doubts again. Many pundits believe his job remains unsafe despite Ratcliffe’s promise of a long-term plan.
Yet Amorim finds motivation in adversity. What sustains him most is the loyalty of the supporters who endured humiliations against teams like Grimsby and Brentford but never stopped singing for him.
“It’s not normal to have fans like this,” Amorim said. “So many bad moments, and still they support me. Everyone said I’d be gone by Christmas. I want you to keep saying that — it helps me.”
He smiled before leaving the press room. “We haven’t had many wins like this,” he said. “Our fans have suffered too long. Today they saw a team fighting for them. This win belongs to them.”
