Liverpool vs. Manchester United 1-2: Iconic Derby moments

FC Liverpool vs Manchester United 1:2 (0:1) – The English classic was, of course, our Match of the Week on October 19, 2025. The clash between the English co-record champions surprisingly went to struggling Manchester United. 

In Premier League football trips, all stadiums are seated only. For home games of FC Liverpool, it's still a good idea to be in your seat at least half an hour before kick-off.
Otherwise, you might miss the world-famous anthem “You’ll Never Walk Alone” performed just before kick-off (All about tickets and the stadium experience at FC Liverpool). 

But with Liverpool’s current defensive form, you could also miss the first goal – against Manchester United it took less than two minutes before Bryan Mbeuno scored the fastest goal in the English classic since United idol Nicky Butt in 1995.

A goal like a punch for “The Reds,” who entered the match with three consecutive competitive defeats and initially without their new German signing Florian Wirtz.

“Wirtz is being blamed for everything negative in Liverpool”

The €140 million midfielder, signed from Bayer Leverkusen, is still waiting for his breakthrough in Liverpool. 

Before the match, LFC coach Arne Slot (47) tried to protect the German. “He talks a lot with Wirtz, supports him,” said respected colleagues from SPORT BILD (Issue 42 / 2025), “Slot is the most important support for Wirtz at his new club.” 

Jan Age Fjörtoft, former Premier League player for Barnsley FC and now an expert at Viaplay, has no sympathy for the ridicule aimed at Wirtz, who was also pursued by Bayern Munich: “The criticism is focused on Wirtz – he seems to be blamed for everything negative in Liverpool. All that’s missing is blaming him for the Beatles not performing anymore.”

That’s all we need – although it’s still not entirely clear whether this was due to John Lennon or Sir James Paul McCartney, who back then wasn’t yet a “Sir”...

You really couldn’t blame the 22-year-old for the defeat against Manchester United.

Liverpool – Manchester United: When €275 million worth of stars come off the bench…

Wirtz came on after an hour together with former Frankfurt player Hugo Ekitiké. At that moment, players with transfer fees totaling €275 million were subbed in, as Manchester United coach Ruben Amorim (40) brought on the €75 million former Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko for Mason Mount.

Florian Wirtz was lively, constantly tearing gaps in the United defence, and in the 78th minute initiated what seemed to be the turning point in the game, cleverly passing to fellow substitute Federico Chiesa. His cross was converted by Cody Gakpo from close range for 1:1.

“The substitutions gave Liverpool new energy and reawakened the crowd at Anfield,” said former Liverpool pro Stephen Warnock from the press box. 

With the famous “Anfield Roar” from the stands and high ball possession, Liverpool seemed to be pushing their arch-rivals against the wall.

But then came one of those derby moments that fans will talk about for a long time. Harry Maguire headed in a Bruno Fernandes cross to make it 1:2 – and shocked Liverpool with his first goal of the season (84').

You really can’t make this up.

Senne Lammens secured the win for Manchester United with five saves. Liverpool had six of their eleven shots on target – but only one found the net.

The final celebrations belonged to match-winner Maguire, who is playing for a new contract with the “Red Devils.” 

“What a moment for Amorim!” exclaimed United legend Gary Neville on Sky Sports UK, “It was a great place for Manchester United to win a football match – and they pulled something out of the bag. But they must also show this is the start of something new.” 

Something new… well, that’s what Liverpool’s decision-makers likely wanted after the 2025 championship too, when they invested €500 million in new stars. 

But football glory has always been short-lived, and it seems these high-profile transfers – with Premier League record signing Alexander Isak again failing to make an impact – have completely disrupted the team’s structure on Merseyside. 

However, if the five new signings – Ekitiké, Jeremie Frimpong, Isak, Milos Kerkez, and Wirtz – hit form, the excitement will return quickly. No doubt. The quality in Liverpool’s squad is simply too high.

Manchester United vs Liverpool: When is the return match?

The English classic returns on May 2, 2026, this time at the “Theatre of Dreams” at Old Trafford.