After almost a year and 35 matches of mixed results, Ruben Amorim finally earned his defining moment as Manchester United manager. The Portuguese coach once described his side as maybe the worst in club history.
Recently, even Sir Jim Ratcliffe had to defend him publicly as pressure mounted. Many believed another poor result would end his time in charge. Yet, under the lights of Anfield, Amorim’s team delivered their best performance so far full of grit, structure, and fight.
This was no smash-and-grab like the win over Manchester City last December. United struck early through Bryan Mbeumo, then battled to control the game. When Cody Gakpo equalised late on, United found another gear. Harry Maguire restored the lead with a header from a superb Bruno Fernandes cross, sealing a 2–1 victory.
It marked United first win at Anfield in nine years. Amorim called it “the biggest win of my time at Manchester United.” For the first time, he looked like a manager ready to build something real.
From Criticism to Credibility
Amorim’s journey hasn’t been easy. Since replacing Erik ten Hag, he’s faced doubts about tactics, motivation, and leadership. His early promise highlighted by a 4 – 0 win over Everton faded quickly. After that game, he warned that “a storm was coming.”
When asked after the Liverpool win if the storm had passed, Amorim answered calmly “I don’t know. If we show this spirit every day, we’ll win many games. But we must keep working and stay focused on Brighton.”
His caution makes sense. United fans have seen too many false dawns. The team now faces Brighton, Nottingham Forest, and Tottenham, three fixtures that brought zero points in the last two seasons.
Former captain Roy Keane echoed the same warning “The players need to use this as a springboard. We’ve seen false starts before now they must push on.”
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Maguire’s Comeback
Few stories capture United fighting spirit better than Harry Maguire’s. Written off by many, stripped of the captaincy, and nearly sold to West Ham, he refused to give up.
When Matthijs de Ligt started ahead of him this season, Maguire trained harder to reclaim his spot. Now, with his contract running down, he’s even ready to take a pay cut to stay at Old Trafford.
“This club demands strength,” Amorim said. “Harry has faced everything and stayed strong. He’s a great example for young players.”
Maguire’s winning header wasn’t just a goal it was redemption. His persistence mirrors Amorim’s fight to rebuild Manchester United identity.
Faith Restored, But Work Still Ahead
The mood at Old Trafford has changed. Amorim now has back-to-back league wins and a historic triumph at Anfield. Still, he knows one bad game can flip the story again.
Next up is Brighton at home, a match United cannot afford to lose. Another defeat would make it four straight losses to Brighton at Old Trafford. Amorim accepts the challenge with confidence.
He even joked about media predictions that he’d be “gone by Christmas.” “Keep that story going,” he said with a grin. “It’s good for me. Our fans have endured tough times defeats, disappointments but today they saw a new team. This win is for them.”
For the first time, Amorim seems in control of his own narrative. Whether this marks the start of a real revival or another short-lived burst depends on what happens next. But one thing is clear at Anfield, Amorim proved his Manchester United can win, fight, and believe again.
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