It took 11 months and 35 matches for this moment to arrive. It followed a period when Rúben Amorim described his own side as “maybe” the worst Manchester United team in history. It came after weeks of public uncertainty, self-doubt, and rumours that his job was on the line. Even minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe had to step in recently to back him publicly.
Finally, at Anfield – the home of United’s fiercest rivals – Amorim’s team delivered a statement win.
A victory that changed the mood
This wasn’t another lucky strike like the smash-and-grab win against Manchester City last December. This time, United led for 83 minutes. Bryan Mbeumo’s early goal set the tone. They fought for every inch, defending with grit as Liverpool pushed harder in the second half. When Cody Gakpo equalised in the 78th minute, United refused to crumble. Instead, they struck back. Bruno Fernandes delivered a superb cross, and Harry Maguire rose to head home the winner. Amorim later admitted his team had “some luck.”
It was United’s first win at Anfield in nine years, their first back-to-back Premier League victories under Amorim, and their clearest sign of progress since he replaced Erik ten Hag. For the first time, he has something real to build on. “The biggest win in my time at Manchester United,” said the 40-year-old manager proudly.
As the final whistle blew, Amorim seemed to lose himself for a moment, just like the 3,000 travelling United fans celebrating wildly in the away end. Few expected this result, even against a Liverpool side that had just lost three straight matches.
When Amorim faced the media later, he had regained his composure. He was reminded of his early optimism last December, after a 4-0 victory over Everton, when he had declared that “a storm was coming.” Asked if that storm had now passed, Amorim smiled. “I have no idea,” he said calmly. “If we show today’s spirit in training and in matches, we will win many games. But we must take action. It has been a good day. Now we focus on Brighton. We will see after that.”
Caution and perspective amid renewed hope
Amorim knows better than to get carried away. Even loyal fans like Frank Ilett, who promised himself a haircut once United win five games in a row, might need to wait a little longer. The next fixtures are brutal: Brighton at home, Nottingham Forest away, and Tottenham away. Over the past two seasons, United failed to earn a single point from these same matches.
Players and supporters know all too well that every “new dawn” has faded almost instantly in recent years. “The players will go back to training in a better place,” said former captain Roy Keane. “But they must use this as a springboard to push on.” Maguire, celebrating his first Anfield win as a United player, agreed. “We haven’t given the fans enough days like that,” he said. “Football is about creating special memories. Today we go home happy – but we can’t get carried away.”
Maguire’s attitude reflected everything Amorim praised in his post-match comments. When Erik ten Hag dropped him and stripped him of the captaincy, Maguire could have left. West Ham wanted him, but he stayed and fought. When Amorim arrived and picked Matthijs de Ligt ahead of him, Maguire refused to give up again. Now, deep into the final year of his contract, he even considers taking a pay cut to extend his stay.
“This club brings enormous pressure,” said Amorim. “Harry is vital for us. After everything he has gone through, he’s a great example for every kid.”
Still under pressure but finally with belief
Amorim knows one big win won’t silence the critics. Ratcliffe recently spoke of giving him three years, but another home defeat to Brighton next weekend – United’s fourth in a row against them at Old Trafford – could reopen old wounds. Many commentators, both publicly and privately, still expect his time at the club to end sooner rather than later.
Yet Amorim has learned to turn that pressure into fuel. He also takes comfort in the fans’ loyalty. They have stood by him through humiliations like the League Cup loss at League Two Grimsby, through the frustration of defeats to Brentford, and through weeks of disappointment. Still, they sing his name.
“It’s not normal to have this kind of support,” Amorim said. “So many bad moments, and still the fans back the manager. Everyone said I’d be gone by Christmas. I want you all to keep saying that. It’s best for me.”
Then he smiled again. “I don’t have many wins in Manchester,” he added. “Our fans suffered against Grimsby, they suffered against Brentford. Today, they saw a different team. This win is for them.”
