Anfield Upset: United End Nine-Year Drought in Classic Showdown
Image Credit: Nathan Wong via Unsplash
In the build-up to this English Classic, Liverpool were clear favourites to triumph at Anfield - a ground where rivals, Manchester United, have not tasted victory in 9 years. Last season was telling of the gap between the two sides: Liverpool won the Premier League title, equalling their arch-rivals' record of 20 League titles, whereas United reached new lows with a 15th-place finish. A humiliation. Over the past few weeks of the new season, however, it is United who appear to be on the rise, to the despair of Liverpool.
When the final whistle blew at Anfield to the sound of a United victory - the first in 9 years - few would've bet it would be Ruben Amorim, not Arne Slot, celebrating. With his team now 3 wins on the bounce, United fan and viral TikTok sensation, Frank Ilett, can hopefully start looking at booking a trip to the barbershop after his ‘No Win, No Hair Trim’ challenge. On the contrary, Liverpool appear dejected and depleted after 6 losses in their last 7 games. Winning a consecutive title seems to be growing out of their reach with every game that passes.
To kickstart the game, Bryan Mbeumo coolly slotted past Giorgi Mamardashvili in the opening minutes, making Amorim's dream start become a reality. Amorim's back 5 system appeared to be gearing the game towards United's advantage. In fairness to Liverpool's first-half performance, United were lucky not to concede themselves in the first 45 minutes, with Liverpool looking strong and hitting the post multiple times.
To start the second half, Slot entrusted his starting line-up, but it wasn't long before he made a triple substitution at the 62nd-minute mark, injecting new energy. The substitutions of Wirtz and Ekitike paid off - they combined to assist Gakpo for the equalising goal. But, just as Liverpool and Slot were hoping to utilise the Anfield crowd to their advantage in search of the winning goal, United scored again. Maguire headed in the winning goal in the 84th-minute. After a relentless match, Amorim was visibly beaming with confidence at the full-time whistle.
Despite recent pressure from the media over his long-term future, Amorim's success at Anfield showed why he's being entrusted. It remains to be seen how long this patch of consecutive wins will last for the Portuguese coach. It could be just another false dawn or, in fact, the beginning of a rebuild.
For Liverpool, troubling storms lay ahead. Slot, who just a few months ago conquered the Premier League, seems to be suffering from second-season blues. From questionable team selections to an inability to adapt to emboldened opposition teams, could he soon be the one under the managerial hot seat?
Through Amorim and Slot, we can see how fast fortunes can change. In football, what you achieved a year ago can soon feel irrelevant. If the situation under Slot continues, ownership may afford him time - though their focus may shift to cup competitions as defending the league slips out of reach. Failure to win in those could see the same questions directed at the Dutchman that, only a few weeks ago, were being asked of Amorim.