Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt has revealed how his team exploited a major weakness in Liverpool’s setup to secure a dramatic 2-1 victory at Anfield — their first win there in nearly a decade.
Speaking after the match, the Dutch international explained that the team’s game plan under manager Ruben Amorim focused on targeting a specific area of Liverpool’s defence that has been underperforming this season.
“We knew Liverpool had weaknesses, and we had to take advantage,” De Ligt told Viaplay. “Everyone was focused — it was the kind of game where you can’t lose concentration for even a second.”
The win marked a huge moment for Amorim’s side, who have now claimed back-to-back league victories for the first time this season.
United stunned the home crowd just 62 seconds into the game through Bryan Mbeumo’s quick goal, before Cody Gakpo equalised for Liverpool in the 78th minute. But six minutes later, Harry Maguire sealed the victory with a powerful header — ending Liverpool’s unbeaten home run and handing them a fourth consecutive defeat across all competitions.
After the game, former United captain Gary Neville delivered a harsh assessment of Liverpool’s defence on The Gary Neville Podcast, calling their performance “really poor” and accusing one defender of “playing like a 10-year-old left-back.”
The defeat piles pressure on Liverpool boss Arne Slot, whose side has struggled defensively since the exit of Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid last summer.
United fans, meanwhile, will hope the win marks a turning point in Amorim’s debut Premier League campaign.
