‘So important’ – Ruben Amorim hails ‘perfect’ Man Utd star after Liverpool win

Ruben Amorim hailed the impact of Amad Diallo as the Manchester United winger helped his side claim a 2-1 win against Liverpool at Anfield.

The Red Devils had not won against Liverpool on Merseyside in almost a decade, but produced the defining performance of Amorim’s tenure to shock the defending champions.

Amad produced the assist for the game’s first goal after only a minute, sliding through Bryan Mbeumo, who smashed past Giorgi Mamardashvilli and into the Liverpool net.

And while the hosts levelled in the second period through Cody Gakpo’s close-range finish, it was United who found the winner in the closing stages when Harry Maguire headed home from Bruno Fernandes’ cross.

The summer signings of Matheus Cunha and the aforementioned Mbeumo have seen Amad pushed back deeper into a wing-back role in Amorim’s 3-4-2-1 set-up.

But the Portuguese tactician hailed the 23-year-old’s impact from the position and praised him for his resilience after a difficult few weeks in his personal life.

‘Amad is doing so well in that position. He is perfect for that position,’ Amorim told reporters post-match.

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

‘He was upset today when I made the sub but he had a yellow card and that was a lot of man-to-man on the side, so it was just about that.

‘If not, he would have continued in the game because he is so important for us.

‘He struggled in these weeks but we are here for him and that is the most important thing.’

Making his first United appearance away from Old Trafford, summer signing Senne Lammens was another who put in an encouraging display on Sunday.

The young Belgian made a smart stop to deny Alexander Isak in the first half, and looks to have rubber-stamped his status as the club’s first-choice goalkeeper.

‘He was really important,’ Amorim said when asked about Lammens.

‘Sometimes he needs a bit of luck because they had two shots on the post – that can change the narrative; the way you see the team, the goalkeeper, whatever.

‘So he has to understand that but he showed a lot of chararcter and a lot of quality and we win also because of Lamnens.’

United’s victory at Anfield gave Amorim back-to-back league wins for the first in his tenure, but he was quick to insist that it would mean nothing unless it was followed up by another encouraging performance next weekend.

‘I think that was the biggest win in my time at Manchester United,’ he told Sky Sports. ‘It means a lot today but tomorrow it won’t mean a lot. It’s three points and it’s a good victory.

‘We fought for every ball, we lost our composure in the second half but the spirit was there and that is the most important thing, if you have the spirit you can win any game.

‘It was a good day and now I am concerned about Brighton. I will enjoy it but let’s focus on Brighton.’

For more stories like this, check our sport page.

Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.