Ruben Amorim was in combative mode following Manchester United’s 2-1 win over Liverpool – their first win at Anfield since 2016 – and asked the media to “continue with the narrative” of him being under pressure to keep his managerial job at the Premier League club.
“I want you guys to continue with the narrative that you are,” he said. “Don’t change that. That is best for me. I will not now increase the goal, or whatever. No. You continue now with the same narrative. What we need to do is try to win three games in a row and then forget about the top four, top six. We already said that we need to qualify for Europe.
“But this doesn’t change anything. We are the same team that we were 90 minutes ago. The way people see the team is different but
we are the same team. We have a lot to do. We had some luck in a few moments. We had amazing spirit and we need to take all of that to the next game so it’s always the same,” he added.
Amorim said the victory was a deserved reward for the club’s long-suffering fans.
Harry Maguire left it late to hand Liverpool a fourth consecutive defeat. The 2-1 win also marked United’s first consecutive Premier League victories since Amorim took charge nearly a year ago.
However, the Portuguese coach emphasised that the upcoming match against Brighton at Old Trafford will better indicate United’s prospects for the season.
“That was the biggest win in my time at Manchester United. It means a lot today but tomorrow it won’t mean a lot,” said Amorim.
United had been eliminated from the League Cup by fourth-tier Grimsby in August, and Amorim’s position appeared precarious after a loss to Brentford last month.
Nonetheless, victories over Sunderland and their historic rivals have propelled the Red Devils to ninth in the Premier League, just two points behind fourth-placed Liverpool.
“It was really important for our fans. They struggled against Grimsby, against Brentford and today they saw a different team,” added Amorim. “To win in the stadium of the champions and our biggest rivals is really important.”
Despite the significance of the win, Amorim wasn’t entirely satisfied with his team’s performance. Bryan Mbeumo gave the visitors an ideal start, scoring the opening goal just 61 seconds into the match. United had opportunities to extend their lead as Bruno Fernandes hit the post, but they also had to rely on some luck.
Cody Gakpo hit the woodwork three times before finally equalising in the 78th minute. However, Maguire, who had missed a crucial chance in a 2-2 draw during United’s last visit to Anfield in January, emerged as the unlikely hero by heading in Fernandes’s cross.
“It was a great win, not a very well-played game, but great spirit and that is all I can ask,” said Amorim.
Arne Slot attributed Liverpool’s latest poor result to wastefulness in front of goal and poor set-piece defending. Liverpool hadn’t lost four consecutive games since 2014.
Alexander Isak was denied his first Premier League goal since joining Liverpool for a British transfer record £125 million by Belgian goalkeeper Senne Lammens before half-time. Mohamed Salah missed a significant chance early in the second half, and Gakpo failed to convert a prime opportunity to snatch a point after Maguire’s goal.
“If you told me before the game we would create eight, nine, or ten open chances, I wouldn’t think that is possible. From all the chances we got, we only scored one goal,” said Dutchman Slot. “It’s almost impossible to win a big game of football with a negative set-piece balance. We conceded another one today that led to us losing the game.”
The defeat leaves Liverpool four points behind Premier League leaders Arsenal.
With AFP Inputs
