Manchester United defeated Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield on Sunday, marking Liverpool’s fourth consecutive loss and deepening concerns surrounding the team’s performance despite important recent investment. The result hands United a crucial victory and intensifies the pressure on Liverpool manager Arne Slot as the new Premier League season unfolds.
Liverpool, who won the premier League title wiht relative ease last season and subsequently spent nearly £450m on new players, have struggled to replicate that form. This defeat - delivered by their long-time rivals – adds to a growing sense of crisis at Anfield, where dramatic late victories earlier in the season now seem a distant memory. The loss raises questions about the team’s defensive vulnerabilities and overall tactical approach, with supporters voicing their frustrations.
United took an early lead within two minutes, though the circumstances surrounding the opening goal – and a potential head injury to Liverpool’s Mac Allister – are under scrutiny. Despite Liverpool hitting the woodwork three times, they were ultimately unable to convert their chances, with a late header from Gakpo narrowly missing the target.The defeat casts doubt on initial assessments of Liverpool’s struggles as a mere “blip,” suggesting a more basic issue within the squad. The outcome significantly boosts Manchester United’s early season momentum while together plunging Liverpool into a period of intense examination and potential change.
