Matthijs de Ligt Brutally Digs Out Two Liverpool Stars That Man Utd Targeted in Win

Manchester United defender Matthijs de Ligt says his side aimed to target a major Liverpool 'weakness' during their 2-1 win at Anfield.

Harry Maguire scored an 84th-minute winner for United, who have won back-to-back Premier League games under Ruben Amorim for the first time.

Bryan Mbeumo had earlier put them ahead in the second minute, before Liverpool's Cody Gakpo equalised with 15 minutes of normal time remaining.

Mohamed Salah missed an opportunity to equalise for Liverpool at 1-0 down by spearing an effort wide of the post, before being substituted with just one minute of normal time remaining in what was a surprise move by manager Arne Slot.

The defeat means that third-placed Liverpool lose ground on Premier League leaders Arsenal after their third consecutive domestic loss.

Harry Maguire with a MASSIVE header to send the away end wild! 😱 pic.twitter.com/moUtr2aDsj

— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) October 19, 2025

United, meanwhile, are in ninth but only two points behind Slot's side.

Speaking post-match, defender De Ligt gave an honest assessment of how United prepared for the match - and which players in particular they targeted.

He told Viaplay: "We knew that Liverpool had weaknesses, and that's their full-backs.

"We were all really hyped, and the focus was very high. Today was a game that you really have to be concentrated."

Liverpool started Conor Bradley and Milos Kerkez at full-back, with Bradley preferred to Jeremie Frimpong at right-back and Kerkez to Andy Robertson.

Frimpong did come off the bench in the 89th minute, but to replace Salah in attack rather than slot into Liverpool's back four at Anfield.

United are next in Premier League action when they host Brighton at Old Trafford next Saturday.

Liverpool, meanwhile, are back in the Champions League match in midweek with an away trip to Frankfurt, which kicks off on Tuesday.

They then take on Brentford at the Gtech Community Stadium on Saturday - a ground United lost 3-1 at last month.