Rio Ferdinand says Man Utd star can become ‘unplayable’ after Liverpool win

Rio Ferdinand has backed summer signing Matheus Cunha to become ‘unplayable’ after he helped Manchester United beat Liverpool at Anfield.

Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire led United to their first win at Anfield since 2016 and inflicted a fourth straight defeat on reigning champions Liverpool.

Mbeumo put Manchester United ahead inside two minutes but a Liverpool comeback win appeared to be on the cards when Cody Gakpo equalised on 78 minutes.

Anfield roared Liverpool on but United rallied and secured the three points themselves thanks to Maguire’s 84th-minute header.

Arguably Manchester United’s most important win under Amorim leaves the Red Devils ninth in the Premier League, two points behind fourth-placed Liverpool.

Ferdinand was ecstatic after his former club won at Anfield and was particularly complimentary of £62.5m summer signing Cunha.

‘I thought Matheus Cunha was magnificent especially in the second half when we needed someone to give us some time and relief,’ Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel.

Metro at the Match: Liverpool 1-2 Manchester United

Metro at the Match returns to bring you all the analysis from the biggest games of the season.

Here are our team’s key takeaways from United’s dramatic win at Anfield:

Panic stations for Liverpool

Four losses on the bounce and a first home defeat to United in almost a decade should have alarm bells ringing on Merseyside. The season is still young, but Arne Slot’s chaotic side currently look a shadow of the well-oiled machine that cantered to the title last season. Ben Fleming – Sports Reporter

A turning point for Amorim’s tenure?

If beating newly-promoted Sunderland felt like a job-saver for Ruben Amorim, the dramatic win at Anfield felt like a defining and potentially transformational moment for the Old Trafford boss. A Liverpool winner felt inevitable once they finally broke United’s resistance but the visitors rallied superbly and snatched the three points themselves. Much of the talk will be about Liverpool’s fourth straight defeat but this was huge for Manchester United and perhaps the turning point in Amorim’s tenure. Louis Sealey, Deputy Sports Editor

Is Van Dijk beginning to slip?

Much has been made of Mohamed Salah’s slow start to the season, but is Virgil van Dijk also starting to show signs of his age? The Dutchman allowed Bryan Mbeumo to ghost in behind with ease after only a minute, in what is his second costly mistake in as many club games. Ben Fleming – Sports Reporter

Lammens takes to Anfield like a duck to water

Senne Lammens’ selection effectively confirmed his status as Ruben Amorim’s No. 1 after his solid debut against Sunderland. Wayne Rooney was among those questioning the £18m deal – especially as Gianluigi Donnarumma and Emiliano Martinez were available – but it’s looking like money well spent. Lammens denied £125m striker Alexander Isak in the first half and generally provides a more assuring presence in the United goal than either of Andre Onana or Altay Bayindir. Louis Sealey, Deputy Sports Editor

‘I just think he’s a wonderful footballer and once he gets into full flow he’s going to be almost unplayable at times. He’s got that swagger about him, I love Cunha.’

Ferdinand also praised fellow Manchester United forward Mbeumo and goalkeeper Senne Lammens, who appears to have established himself as Amorim’s No. 1 following his summer move from Royal Antwerp.

‘I’ve got to talk about Mbeumo’s performance… he’s been getting chances but hasn’t been that clinical,’ Ferdinand added.

‘This guy keeps getting into good positions. You’re going to get some luck eventually and he got that today.

‘He just causes problems and unnerves defenders. Defenders never look comfortable against him.’

On Lammens, who threatened to keep his second clean sheet in a row, Ferdinand said: ‘He pulled us out with one big save with his feet.

‘He was dependable. His hands were really safe. He’s only played two games so I don’t want to get carried away but he was dependable, sure and assertive.

‘Long may that continue because that instils confidence into the back-line.’

Following a famous win at Anfield, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes said: ‘We know what this kind of games means for our club and fans and also for ourselves in the moment we are right now.

‘It’s really important because we needed three points. We know what it means for the fans and for the club to play this kind of rivalry. It’s been a long time since the club won at Anfield. It’s very important and happy to do it today.

‘Our shape always gives issues to teams. It’s ungrateful to talk about the shape when we lose the games, it’s ungrateful to talk about the shape when we win the games.

‘We always believe in the system, either when we win or lose the game. It’s about doing the right things in the right moments.

‘It’s not going to mean anything if we don’t win the game. We need to do it every week. We know the demand of this club is very high.

‘Everyone was weird about back-to-back wins, but we have to focus on the next game. It was good to win to be closer in the table to where we want to be.’

Manchester United return to Premier League action against Brighton, while defending champions Liverpool visit Brentford.

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