‘The good days are coming.’
That was the promise from Ruben Amorim as he addressed Manchester United’s fed-up supporters on the pitch at Old Trafford after the curtain came down on their nightmare season back in May.
Amorim guided United to a dramatic first win at Anfield since 2016 on Sunday
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Amorim guided United to a dramatic first win at Anfield since 2016 on SundayCredit: Getty
Harry Maguire headed home late on to seal United's first away league win of the season
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Harry Maguire headed home late on to seal United's first away league win of the seasonCredit: Getty
As the travelling hordes crammed into the lower tier of the Anfield Road End serenaded their manager long after the majority of rival Liverpool fans had fled the scene of Sunday’s dramatic 2-1 success, finally there was optimism the Portuguese can come good on those words.
For the first time in almost a year in charge, Amorim knows what it’s like to savour back-to-back Premier League wins.
The much-maligned Amorim also knows the sweet taste of triumph on Liverpool’s enemy soil.
Springboard to success?
It's something no United manager since Louis van Gaal [in 2016] has been able to sample.
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He did his best to play down the significance of the victory, telling talkSPORT ‘this is in the past’ and assuring this correspondent, ‘the next game [against Brighton] is the most important one'.
But the truth is this has to be the springboard for a more permanent changing of fortune for the Red Devils.
After so many false dawns in the post-Fergie era, this can be the catalyst for Amorim to deliver on his pledge of a brave new era.
While big-spending Liverpool look a poor imitation of the side that swept their way to the title last season, United still had to be good enough to take advantage and they were.
Eyebrows were raised when the teamsheets were handed in and there was no Benjamin Sesko in the starting line-up despite scoring in each of his last two games.
It worked to perfection as the front three of Mason Mount, Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo set about a Liverpool back-line that is looking worryingly fragile for Arne Slot.
Maguire justified his inclusion in Amorim's line-up to lift United into ninth spot
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Maguire justified his inclusion in Amorim's line-up to lift United into ninth spotCredit: Getty
Amorim has finally overseen back-to-back Premier League wins on his 35th match in the dugout
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Amorim has finally overseen back-to-back Premier League wins on his 35th match in the dugout
An equally big call from Amorim, no doubt emboldened by minority owner Sir Jim Ratcliffe’s public backing, was to put his faith in Harry Maguire, sacrificing the younger, and quicker legs of Leny Yoro for the former club captain’s big-game experience.
Maguire’s redemption arc has been one of the underlying themes of Amorim’s tenure and the England international’s power-packed header at the same end where he missed a late sitter last season secures his place in United folklore.
Not that he was the only hero in the visiting ranks with Cunha’s tireless running, Amad Diallo and Mbeumo terrorising a hapless Milos Kerkez and the composure of rookie goalkeeper Senne Lammens all vital components.
Amorim also made the right subs at the right time with Sesko thrown on as a battering ram for the final half an hour.
He was also acting as an out-ball to counter Liverpool pressure and Amad and Casemiro both sacrificed having been booked in a fixture with a long history of red cards.
Once Liverpool levelled through their best player Cody Gakpo with 12 minutes of normal time to go, it felt almost inevitable they would go on and score a second and claim another last-gasp win.
But the United players and their manager kept their composure to wrestle back momentum and go again.
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For 98 glorious minutes, and many more after the full-time whistle, this was Amorim’s world and all United fans were living in it.
Maybe, better days ARE finally coming.