Manchester United ended Liverpool’s hopes of a fourth consecutive victory, with Harry Maguire’s late header clinching a 2-1 triumph over the struggling Premier League champions.
Following defeats to Crystal Palace, Galatasaray, and Chelsea, Arne Slot’s squad suffered their most disheartening loss of the season at the hands of their fiercest adversaries on Sunday.
Bryan Mbeumo gave United an early lead within two minutes, and although Cody Gakpo equalized in the 78th minute, Maguire’s decisive header in the 84th minute secured United’s first victory at Anfield since 2016.
This goal also marked the first time under Ruben Amorim’s management that United achieved consecutive Premier League wins.
Liverpool’s defeat leaves them trailing Arsenal by four points at the summit, with Arne Slot still grappling to find the right tactical balance despite investing nearly £450 million ($604 million) in new signings.
Meanwhile, United climbed to ninth place, narrowing the gap to their historic rivals to just two points and alleviating some pressure on Amorim after his most significant victory in almost a year.
Liverpool’s nightmare Sunday began with Mbeumo effortlessly bypassing Virgil van Dijk before slotting the ball past Giorgi Mamardashvili from Amad Diallo’s assist within the opening minute.
The home crowd expressed outrage as play continued despite Alexis MacAllister suffering a head injury caused by an accidental clash with his captain, Van Dijk.
Slot once again left high-profile signing Florian Wirtz on the bench, searching unsuccessfully for the ideal blend of defense and offense.
Gakpo came close to leveling when his shot from Mohamed Salah’s pass struck the post during Liverpool’s only fluent attack in the first half.
Bruno Fernandes missed a golden opportunity to double United’s advantage, firing wide from close range while unmarked at the edge of the box.
Liverpool’s goalkeeper, Senne Lammens, was largely untested in the first half but made a crucial save to deny Alexander Isak, who was aiming for his first Premier League goal since his record-breaking £125 million ($93 million) transfer.
Early in the second half, Gakpo’s deflected cross hit the post again, marking his third near-miss.
In response, Slot introduced Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike around the 60-minute mark, joining Salah, Gakpo, and Isak to form a five-pronged attack.
Despite Salah’s record as the top scorer in this fixture, his current form was evident when he missed a clear chance, shooting wide with only Lammens to beat.
Liverpool’s attacking pressure finally paid off when Federico Chiesa, who had replaced Isak moments earlier, delivered a precise low cross that Gakpo converted from close range.
However, Liverpool’s defensive vulnerabilities were exposed again just six minutes later as Maguire, unmarked, headed in Fernandes’s looping cross to restore United’s lead.
Gakpo had another chance to salvage a draw but headed wide from Jeremie Frimpong’s inviting cross.
Ultimately, Liverpool suffered their first league defeat at Anfield in over a year, dealing a significant blow to their ambitions of claiming a record 21st English top-flight title.
Reflecting on the victory, Maguire told Sky Sports, “Winning here means everything. It’s been a long wait to come to this stadium and take all three points.”
He added, “People say it’s just three points, but for the club, the players, and the fans, it’s so much more.”
Liverpool captain Van Dijk emphasized the need for unity during tough times, stating, “This is a challenging period, and we must stand together-not only as players but as a club and with our supporters.”
He continued, “We have to remain humble, keep working hard, and maintain our confidence. When adversity strikes, it’s crucial to support one another. The season is long.”
Earlier on Sunday, Aston Villa secured a 2-1 comeback victory over Tottenham, thanks to Emi Buendia’s curling strike.
This win extended Villa’s impressive turnaround after a poor start to the campaign and prevented Spurs from temporarily moving into second place.
Buendia weaved through defenders near the box in the 77th minute at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before delivering a perfectly placed shot into the bottom corner.
It marked Villa’s fifth consecutive win across all competitions after failing to win any of their first six matches this season.
Tottenham’s seven-game unbeaten streak ended despite Rodrigo Bentancur’s early goal in the fifth minute.
Morgan Rogers equalized in the 37th minute, but Villa ultimately claimed all three points, handing Tottenham coach Thomas Frank his second league defeat since taking charge in the summer.
