‘Weak link’ – Roy Keane swipe at Man Utd star backfires in Liverpool win
Roy Keane and Jamie Redknapp were forced to eat their words as Harry Maguire fired Manchester United to a huge victory over Liverpool at Anfield.
United recorded their first win at Anfield for almost a decade and inflicted a fourth straight defeat on reigning Premier League champions Liverpool.
It was also the first time Ruben Amorim, who has been fighting to save his job for the best part of a year, has recorded back-to-back wins in the Premier League.
Bryan Mbeumo put United ahead inside two minutes after referee Michael Oliver controversially did not stop the play when Alexis Mac Allister went down with a head injury.
Liverpool sensed a comeback win but it was Manchester United who snatched the three points courtesy of Maguire’s 84th-minute header.
‘What a moment for Ruben Amorim,’ Old Trafford legend Gary Neville told Sky Sports. ‘He needed something, the pressure was building but a win at Anfield is huge.
‘It’s a great place for United to win a game of football. It’s a big period coming up, the manager is under pressure and they pulled something out of the bag and they have to make sure this is the start of something.’
Speaking before the game, both Keane and Redknapp expressed their ‘worry’ that England centre-back Maguire was picked ahead of the quicker Leny Yoro.
But Maguire produced a brilliant performance at Anfield, keeping Liverpool’s array of attacking talent quiet before popping up with a dramatic winner.
‘We know Harry’s got the experience but the lack of pace might be an issue,’ Keane said. ‘That would be a worry but he’s played hundreds of games, he’s an established international player.
‘It’s a great place for United to win a game of football. It’s a big period coming up, the manager is under pressure and they pulled something out of the bag and they have to make sure this is the start of something.’
Speaking before the game, both Keane and Redknapp expressed their ‘worry’ that England centre-back Maguire was picked ahead of the quicker Leny Yoro.
But Maguire produced a brilliant performance at Anfield, keeping Liverpool’s array of attacking talent quiet before popping up with a dramatic winner.
‘We know Harry’s got the experience but the lack of pace might be an issue,’ Keane said. ‘That would be a worry but he’s played hundreds of games, he’s an established international player.
They also got it right tactically. They never played out from the back once. They got it spot on.
‘Amorim has been battered by everyone but he will feel good after that, but a breakthrough moment? Only time will tell.
‘Time will tell if Manchester United can kick on but this feels like a huge win for the manager.’
The result at Anfield leaves Amorim’s side ninth in the Premier League, two points behind fourth-placed Liverpool.
‘I wouldn’t go as far as to say United are back but it’s a huge win for them,’ ex-captain Keane added.
‘We’ve all been critical of this group of players over the last year but on today’s performance, they showed grit. They stuck at it and you felt they had goals in them.
‘It’s a big moment for these players and they should enjoy it. But now they have to kick on.’
Manchester United will look for a third successive Premier League weekend when Brighton visit Old Trafford, while Liverpool travel to Eintracht Frankfurt in midweek in the Champions League.
