Bruno Fernandes highlighted that Manchester United’s first victory at Anfield since January 2016 was aided by the frustration of Liverpool fans, who expressed their displeasure during the first half as their team struggled to apply pressure on Ruben Amorim’s squad.
Harry Maguire’s header in the 84th minute secured a 2-1 triumph for United, following Cody Gakpo‘s equalizer, which canceled out Bryan Mbeumo’s second-minute goal for the visitors. This victory marked the first time Amorim has led United to consecutive league wins since his arrival from Sporting CP last November, while also signaling Liverpool’s fourth consecutive defeat across all competitions.
Liverpool’s last five-game losing streak dates back to September 1953, and under Arne Slot, the team is set to face Eintracht Frankfurt in the Champions League on Wednesday, hoping to avoid equaling their worst record in 72 years.
Fernandes asserted that the anxiety felt by home supporters played a significant role in United’s success against Liverpool.
“In the first 10 minutes, we knew they [Liverpool] would start aggressively,” Fernandes explained to Sky Sports. “In the first half, we sensed their struggle when they had time on the ball, as the fans were pressuring them to play faster.”
“We aimed to slow their game down, which opened up significant space in the midfield. In the second half, we had the opportunity to control the play more effectively.”
“We recognize what these rivalries mean to our fans and the club. It’s been a long time since Manchester United triumphed at Anfield.”
“Achieving this victory is incredibly important, and I am thrilled to have done so today.”
This win brings United within two points of fourth-placed Liverpool, enhancing the possibility of Amorim’s squad contending for Champions League qualification this season. When asked about their status as contenders for the Champions League, Amorim suggested it was premature to place such expectations on his team.
“I want you to maintain the narrative you’ve created, so I won’t raise the goal,” Amorim told reporters. “Our focus should be on winning three games consecutively and then we can discuss top four or top six.”
“We’ve always noted our desire to compete in Europe. This remains unchanged; we are still the same team we were 90 minutes ago.”
“While I can’t predict whether we will display the spirit we showed today, I believe we will win many matches. But to do that, we must take action.”
“Winning is vital. I haven’t had many victories in Manchester, so securing back-to-back wins is very important, and every detail of this game, including the spirit exhibited during challenging moments and our control, was excellent. Let’s aim to replicate that next week.”
“It’s crucial for our fans. They’ve faced challenges against Grimsby and Brentford, but today they witnessed a different team.”