Manchester United turned up at Anfield and were deserved winners against arch-rivals Liverpool in the Premier League.
After a nine-year run of miserable results on Merseyside, Manchester United beat Liverpool 2-1 on Sunday afternoon.
Ruben Amorim outclassed Arne Slot on the sidelines, leaving the Liverpool boss seething at United’s “long ball” tactics after full time.
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It was Harry Maguire who scored the dramatic winner, while Bryan Mbeumo etched his name on the scoresheet within two minutes.
But there were dominant performances across the pitch for United, and former Liverpool defender Phil Thompson picked out a different Red Devils star to praise.
Photo by Ash Donelon/Manchester United via Getty ImagesPhil Thompson raves about Man United star vs Liverpool
Amorim got his tactics spot on at Anfield, including some bold selection decisions and the game plan that ultimately exposed Liverpool on their own turf.
One of the biggest decisions made was to drop Benjamin Sesko for Matheus Cunha, but the Brazilian repaid Amorim’s faith with a world-class performance.
A performance so good, in fact, that even LFC TV pundit Thompson couldn’t help but praise United’s summer signing.
Speaking on The Official Liverpool FC podcast, Thompson said: “I thought Cunha played very well.
“Mbeumo did well, and I know he got the goal, but I thought Cunha for what he did, his work rate, his positional play. That’s what you can say, out of possession, he was fantastic.”
Matheus Cunha brings more than goals to Man United
It is easy to point out that Cunha has not yet scored or assisted for United this season, and yet every supporter will agree his signing has been a major success.
United have often lacked a forward who can get on the ball and carry the team up the pitch, and Cunha does that superbly.
When played up front, his link-up play is extraordinary, and his ability to protect the ball is invaluable for United.
Cunha is silencing his haters at United, and his confidence will only grow when his first goal for the Red Devils eventually comes.