Rio Ferdinand says Man Utd star can change into ‘unplayable’ after Liverpool win | Football

Rio Ferdinand has backed summer signing Matheus Cunha to change into ‘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 seemed 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 because of Maguire’s 84th-minute header.

Arguably Manchester United’s most vital win under Amorim leaves the Red Devils ninth within 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 assumed Matheus Cunha was magnificent especially within the second half when we would have liked someone to offer us a while and relief,’ Ferdinand said on his YouTube channel.

Metro on the Match: Liverpool 1-2 Manchester United

Metro on the Match returns to bring you all of the evaluation from the largest games of the season.

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

Panic stations for Liverpool

4 losses on the bounce and a primary home defeat to United in almost a decade must have alarm bells ringing on Merseyside. The season remains to be 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 however the visitors rallied superbly and snatched the three points themselves. Much of the talk will likely be about Liverpool’s fourth straight defeat but this was huge for Manchester United and maybe the turning point in Amorim’s tenure. Louis Sealey, Deputy Sports Editor

Is Van Dijk starting to slide?

Much has been fabricated from Mohamed Salah’s slow begin to the season, but is Virgil van Dijk also starting to indicate signs of his age? The Dutchman allowed Bryan Mbeumo to ghost in behind with ease after only a minute, in what’s 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 amongst those questioning the £18m deal – especially as Gianluigi Donnarumma and Emiliano Martinez were available – however it’s looking like money well spent. Lammens denied £125m striker Alexander Isak in the primary half and usually provides a more assuring presence within the United goal than either of Andre Onana or Altay Bayindir. Louis Sealey, Deputy Sports Editor

‘I just think he’s a beautiful 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 like 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 speak about Mbeumo’s performance… he’s been getting possibilities but hasn’t been that clinical,’ Ferdinand added.

‘This guy keeps moving 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 maintain his second clean sheet in a row, Ferdinand said: ‘He pulled us out with one big save together with his feet.

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

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

Following a famous win at Anfield, Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes said: ‘We all know what this sort of games means for our club and fans and likewise for ourselves within the moment we’re immediately.

‘It’s really vital because we would have liked three points. We all know what it means for the fans and for the club to play this sort of rivalry. It’s been an extended time because the club won at Anfield. It’s very vital and blissful to do it today.

‘Our shape all the time gives issues to groups. It’s ungrateful to speak concerning the shape after we lose the games, it’s ungrateful to speak concerning the shape after we win the games.

‘We all the time imagine within the system, either after we win or lose the sport. It’s about doing the proper things in the proper moments.

‘It’s not going to mean anything if we don’t win the sport. We’d like to do it every week. We all know the demand of this club may be very high.

‘Everyone was weird about back-to-back wins, but we’ve to concentrate on the subsequent game. It was good to win to be closer within the table to where we would like to be.’

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

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