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It has taken 11 months and 35 games.
It has come after Ruben Amorim described his team as ‘maybe’ the worst in Manchester United history.
It has come after he expressed public doubts over his own position and, in the past fortnight, was given public reassurance from minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe amid growing speculation the next sequence of poor results would mark the end of his tenure.
Finally, at Anfield, home of Manchester United’s – historically and statistically – biggest rivals, Amorim’s team delivered a statement win.
This wasn’t a repeat of the smash-and-grab success at Manchester City last December. This was a game where United led for 83 minutes.
A game where they had chances to extend the lead given to them by Bryan Mbeumo in the opening moments, a game where they scrapped and defended for their lives as Liverpool roused themselves as the second half dragged on.
A game where, after they were pegged back by Cody Gakpo’s 78th-minute leveller, had the resilience to go again and get a winner through Harry Maguire, created by a quite brilliant cross from Bruno Fernandes.
A game where, Amorim admitted, his side had “some luck”.
It sealed a first Anfield win for nine years, when Wayne Rooney scored the only goal, and successive victories in the Premier League for the first time since Amorim replaced Erik ten Hag.
It has been a long time, far longer than anyone thought, but Amorim has got something to build on.
“The biggest win in my time at Manchester United,” was how the 40-year-old described the result afterwards.
It was almost as if, for a few brief seconds, Amorim had lost himself the way 3,000 United fans had done at the final whistle, celebrating a victory few thought was likely – even if Liverpool went into the game off the back of three successive defeats.
The Portuguese had regained his composure by the time he spoke to the wider media a short time afterwards, when he was reminded of his comments in the only comparable moment of euphoria during his tenure – a 4-0 win against Everton on 1 December which extended his unbeaten start to three games and declared a “storm was coming”.
Has the storm passed now, Amorim was asked at Anfield?
“I have no idea,” came the considered reply.
“If we show the spirit we did today, in training and in games, we will win so many games.
“But for that we need to take action. It has been a good day. Now we must focus on Brighton. We will see after Brighton.”
Source: Simon Stone
Manchester United reporter
