It took 11 months and 35 tense matches to reach this point. Rúben Amorim once called his squad “maybe” the worst in Manchester United’s history. He doubted his future, faced relentless pressure, and needed public backing from minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe to keep his job.
Then came Anfield — the most daunting of stages. There, Amorim’s United finally produced the performance he had been promising.
A victory built on resilience and courage
This was no fluke like last December’s win at Manchester City. From the first whistle, United showed intent and composure. Bryan Mbeumo’s early strike gave them the lead, and they defended with fierce determination as Liverpool pressed hard.
Even when Cody Gakpo levelled in the 78th minute, United refused to crumble. Instead, Bruno Fernandes delivered a sublime cross, and Harry Maguire powered home a dramatic winner. Amorim admitted afterward his team enjoyed “some luck,” but it was the kind earned through persistence.
It ended nine long years without a win at Anfield and marked United’s first consecutive league victories under Amorim. “The biggest win in my time here,” the 40-year-old coach said proudly.
For a few moments, Amorim celebrated with the 3,000 away fans in pure joy. Few had believed such a result was possible — even against a faltering Liverpool.
Later, when asked if his much-talked-about “storm” had passed, Amorim gave a calm answer. “I have no idea,” he said. “If we keep showing this spirit in training and matches, we’ll win many games. But we must keep working. It’s been a good day. Now we focus on Brighton.”
The next test for Amorim’s revival
Amorim knows one good night doesn’t erase the struggles. Even optimistic fans, like Frank Ilett who vowed a haircut after five straight wins, might still wait a while. The next fixtures — Brighton, Nottingham Forest, and Tottenham — will reveal whether United’s progress is real. They’ve taken no points from those games over the past two seasons.
Former captain Roy Keane warned against complacency. “The players will return in a better place,” he said. “But this has to be a springboard.”
Harry Maguire, who tasted victory at Anfield for the first time, echoed that sentiment. “We haven’t given 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 reflects United’s spirit. When Ten Hag dropped him and stripped the captaincy, he stayed. He turned down West Ham, fought back under Amorim, and won his place again. Now, with his contract running down, he’s even ready to take a pay cut to stay.
“This club carries huge pressure,” Amorim said. “Harry is vital for us. After everything he’s faced, he’s an example for every young player.”
Pressure remains, but belief returns
Amorim knows one result won’t silence his doubters. Ratcliffe’s talk of a three-year plan won’t protect him from renewed scrutiny if Brighton win at Old Trafford next week. Many still expect his tenure to end soon.
But Amorim thrives under pressure. He draws strength from the fans who have stuck by him through humiliations against teams like Grimsby and Brentford.
“It’s not normal to see this kind of loyalty,” Amorim said. “So many bad moments, and still the fans support me. Everyone said I’d be gone by Christmas. I want you all to keep saying that. It motivates me.”
He smiled as he looked back on the night. “We don’t have many wins like this,” he said. “Our fans suffered so much. Today, they finally saw a different Manchester United. This win is for them.”
