United Triumph at Anfield: A Derby Packed with Rare Moments
19 October 2025
Match Summary
Manchester United defeated Liverpool 2-1 at Anfield on Sunday in the eighth round of the Premier League.
United’s goals came from Bryan Mbiyono and Harry Maguire, while Cody Gakpo scored Liverpool’s sole reply.
The result lifts United to 13 points in ninth place, while Liverpool sit on 15 points in third, four behind leaders Arsenal.
A rare set of incidents marked the match. Opta noted the fixture finished with Liverpool suffering a fourth consecutive defeat across competitions, the first time since November 2014 under Brendan Rodgers.
The losing run began with Crystal Palace (1-2), then Galatasaray (0-1), followed by Chelsea (1-2), and finally United (2-1).
SofaScore highlighted that United have won two consecutive away games since Ruben Amorim took over in November 2024.
Amorim becomes the third manager to win his first two away games against the reigning champions, after Manuel Pellegrini and Antonio Conte.
It’s also noted that United beat the title holders at their home in back-to-back seasons for the first time in their history—last season’s 2-1 victory at the Etihad notwithstanding.
First-half woodwork
In the first half, the ball struck the woodwork three times, a rare occurrence in the Premier League within the opening 45 minutes, according to Opta.
Mbiyono’s goal after 62 seconds stands as the fastest in the rivalry’s Premier League history at Anfield.
Since the start of 2025, the Cameroonian forward has been the most prolific away contributor in the league for United, with 11 goal involvements (7 goals, 4 assists).
Overall, Mbiyono reached 18 goal involvements in the Premier League this year, ranking third behind Erling Haaland and Mohamed Salah.
Maguire’s strike capped a strong display from United’s captain, who also helped defensively with eight clearances, five aerial wins, and four ball recoveries as he anchored the rearguard.
For Liverpool, Virgil van Dijk and co. suffered a fourth league defeat at Anfield in the current campaign, continuing a rough spell that has included prior results against Leeds United in 2022 and Crystal Palace in 2024.
Key Numbers & Milestones
The match featured the springboard moment that folklore loves to clutch—an away win against the title holders in a high-stakes derby, with United taking all three points.
Rio-style headlines aside, this was a game that mixed clinical finishing with stubborn defending, and a few moments of fortune that will be talked about for weeks.
United’s two-goal cushion lasted into the second half, while Liverpool pressed and probed but found their finishing touch lacking on the day.
In a subtle shift, Amorim’s United side looked compact on the break and resilient in defensive transitions, a recipe that served them well at Anfield this time around.
As the season progresses, both clubs will be mapping how these dynamics play out against the backdrop of a crowded table and a demanding fixture list.
Punchline 1: If football is showbiz, tonight’s lineup proved the stage is still big, and the script still has plot twists—mostly involving wood and unpredictable goal celebrations.
Punchline 2: And remember: in football as in life, when in doubt, blame the crossbar—it's always closer to your heart than your last shot was to the target.
