Man United's statement win at Anfield plunges Liverpool into crisis

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Manchester United delivered a stunning 2-1 victory over Liverpool at Anfield on October 19, 2025, marking their first away league win at the venue in 10 years. This triumph was a critical boost for United, who had been struggling earlier in the season, while it deepened Liverpool’s ongoing crisis following their fourth straight defeat in all competitions[1][3].

The match began dramatically with Bryan Mbeumo scoring just 62 seconds in, a goal resulting from a controversial incident where Virgil van Dijk inadvertently elbowed teammate Alexis Mac Allister but play was allowed to continue. Mbeumo capitalized on this to give United an immediate lead[1][3].

After this early shock, Liverpool dominated possession and created several chances, largely through Cody Gakpo, who twice hit the post but failed to find the net. Manchester United focused on strong defensive organization and quick counterattacks to maintain their advantage[1].

Late in the game, Harry Maguire sealed the win with a decisive header, confirming United's hard-fought victory and dealing a psychological blow to Liverpool’s title ambitions[1]. The loss extended Liverpool’s recent poor run, following defeats in three previous league games and a humiliating Champions League loss to Galatasaray[1][2].

This result not only ended Liverpool’s unbeaten home record but also signaled increasing turbulence at Anfield under manager Arne Slot, who has struggled to replicate the team’s earlier season form amid injury and confidence issues. Meanwhile, Ruben Amorim’s tactics for United, including a favored 3-4-3 formation, seem to be starting to yield positive results despite recent inconsistency[1][7].

Overall, Manchester United's win at Anfield stands out as a significant statement of intent, highlighting their potential resurgence and plunging Liverpool deeper into crisis as they look to recover in the Premier League title race[1][3].