Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt has lifted the lid on how his team managed to outsmart Liverpool in their thrilling 2–1 win at Anfield on Sunday evening.
It was a night to remember for Rúben Amorim’s men, who grabbed all three points thanks to a late header from Harry Maguire, sealing United’s first Premier League win over Liverpool since 2022. The victory moved them to 13 points, just two behind their Merseyside rivals.
The match started in breathtaking fashion as Bryan Mbeumo stunned the home crowd with a goal in under two minutes. Liverpool fought back, striking the woodwork three times before Cody Gakpo finally equalized. But United weren’t done yet—Maguire’s towering header near the death silenced Anfield once again.
📊 Stat to note: This defeat marks Liverpool’s fourth consecutive loss in all competitions—a run they haven’t suffered since 2014.
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🔍 De Ligt Reveals the Tactical Secret Behind United’s Win
After the game, De Ligt explained that United’s strategy focused on one clear weakness in Arne Slot’s setup — Liverpool’s full-backs.
> “We knew where their weaknesses were — the full-backs,” De Ligt said. “We were highly focused and ready to exploit those spaces. Games like this are all about concentration.”
The Dutch defender’s comments point directly to Milos Kerkez and Conor Bradley, both of whom struggled to contain United’s wide attacks.
Kerkez, who endured a tough night, was criticized by pundit Jamie Redknapp, who described the Hungarian as looking “like a nervous wreck.” Slot now faces a big decision on whether to stick with him or recall Andy Robertson for the next match.
Bradley also had an off-day defensively. While solid on the ground, he failed to win any of his aerial duels and wasted several promising crossing opportunities.
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⚠️ Full-Back Struggles: The Numbers Don’t Lie
Player Tackles (Won) Interceptions Clearances Ground Duels (Won) Aerial Duels (Won) Possession Lost Errors Leading to Shot
Conor Bradley 1 (1) 0 1 4 (3) 0 8 0
Milos Kerkez 1 (1) 1 3 4 (3) 1 (1) 15 1
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🚨 What’s Next for Liverpool?
With pressure mounting, Arne Slot will need a quick fix ahead of their upcoming Champions League clash with Frankfurt on Wednesday night. Unless Liverpool tighten their defensive flanks, their season could start to spiral out of control.
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