Liverpool’s struggles continued at Anfield as they suffered a 2–1 defeat to Manchester United on Sunday evening, marking their fourth consecutive loss across all competitions. Van Dijk’s performance was under scrutiny during the match due to recent defensive lapses.
Despite dominating possession and creating several chances, Arne Slot’s side once again fell short in key moments, allowing United to claim a vital win, SportPremi reports.
Manchester United made the perfect start when Bryan Mbeumo opened the scoring inside the first minute after a sharp through pass from Amad Diallo. The goal came amid controversy as play wasn’t stopped despite Alexis Mac Allister being down with a suspected head injury.
Liverpool eventually pulled level through Cody Gakpo midway into the second half, but Harry Maguire’s late header sealed United’s first win at Anfield since 2016 and their second straight Premier League victory under Ruben Amorim.
Van Dijk: “We Forced Things Too Much”
Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk admitted his frustration after the loss, emphasizing the need for composure and calm in key moments.
“We created chances, we could have won. But the reality is that we lost,” said Van Dijk. “We forced things way too much today — we were constantly in a rush.”
When asked about the controversy surrounding United’s first goal, he replied: “I’m not going to talk about whether the referee should have stopped the game at their first goal.”
Van Dijk concluded: “We’ve lost four games in a row. We have to clear our heads, but this will be hard. We’ve been through tougher times than this.”
Liverpool’s Worrying Run
The defeat marks Liverpool’s fourth consecutive loss against Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Galatasaray in the Champions League, and now Manchester United, their worst run since 2014 under Brendan Rodgers. Arne Slot’s side have struggled to convert dominance into results, with defensive lapses and wasteful finishing undermining their efforts.
Despite flashes of brilliance from Cody Gakpo and Mohamed Salah, the team’s inconsistency remains a major concern.
Manchester United’s Rise Under Ruben Amorim
For Manchester United, this victory signals steady progress under new manager Ruben Amorim. It was their first back-to-back Premier League win under him following a 2–0 win over Sunderland. United looked organized and confident, with Mbeumo, Maguire, and Bruno Fernandes instrumental in securing the win. The result moves United within two points of Liverpool in the league standings.
What’s Next
Liverpool will look to recover when they face Eintracht Frankfurt away in the UEFA Champions League on October 22, 2025. Meanwhile, Manchester United will aim to continue their winning run when they host Brighton on October 25 in the Premier League.
It was also Virgil van Dijk’s fourth Premier League defeat at Anfield, two under Jurgen Klopp and two under Arne Slot, a rare stat for a player once seen as unbeatable at home.
