Manchester United sent out a powerful statement at Anfield, grinding out a hard-fought 2–1 victory over archrivals Liverpool.
It was the Red Devils’ first triumph at the iconic stadium since 2016 and marked back-to-back wins for under-pressure boss Ruben Amorim, whose team rose to the occasion in emphatic fashion.
Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire provided the decisive goals, but it was a collective effort full of character and discipline across the pitch.
Among the standout performers was Matheus Cunha, who returned to the starting XI and, though he neither scored nor assisted, delivered one of his most commanding displays in a United shirt.
The tireless Brazilian proved a constant nuisance for Liverpool’s backline, engaging in more duels (13) than any other player on the field.
While he won five of them, his relentless energy ensured that Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konaté were under pressure throughout.
No teammate recorded more successful duels, and Cunha was the only player on either side to complete two dribbles, successfully beating his marker on both occasions.
Unusually for United, it wasn’t a defender who topped the touch count. Cunha led the way with 55 touches, level with captain Bruno Fernandes and goalkeeper Senne Lammens, highlighting a strengthening spine in Amorim’s evolving setup, with the Brazilian at its tip.
In possession, Cunha was efficient, completing 24 of his 29 attempted passes for an 83% accuracy rate — second only to Fernandes in total passes made.
Though none of his passes were classified as key, he still played a vital role in linking play and carrying the ball under pressure.
He also lost possession 14 times, the joint-highest figure alongside Fernandes, reflecting his heavy involvement in the game’s most contested areas.
Defensively, Cunha showed his grit, contributing two clearances and an interception. Yet his greatest value without the ball was as a reliable outlet, carrying play forward and holding it up when United needed to relieve pressure.
Going forward, he took two shots, one off target and another blocked, but his influence stretched far beyond the scoresheet in a performance defined by fight, intelligence, and unrelenting work rate.
