Match reportLiverpool defeated by Manchester United at Anfield in Premier League

Goals from Bryan Mbeumo and Harry Maguire at the beginning and end of the contest earned the visiting side victory.

Having also struck the woodwork three times himself, Cody Gakpo briefly levelled for Liverpool in the second half before Maguire's winner.

Team

Liverpool named an unchanged line-up as Arne Slot opted to go with the same starting XI he deployed against Chelsea in the last fixture before the international break.

Liverpool: Mamardashvili, Van Dijk, Konate, Kerkez, Szoboszlai, Isak (Chiesa, 72), Mac Allister (Jones, 62), Salah (Frimpong, 85), Bradley (Wirtz, 62), Gakpo, Gravenberch (Ekitike, 62).

Unused subs: Woodman, Gomez, Robertson, Ngumoha.

First half

The game was in just its second minute when the visitors opened the scoring with the first chance of the encounter.

A clash in midfield left Alexis Mac Allister floored, allowing United to sweep up a loose ball and advance forward via Bruno Fernandes and Amad Diallo.

The latter played Mbeumo into the area from the right and the forward struck a first-time finish past Giorgi Mamardashvili to net.

The Reds attempted a swift response as the game was played at pace.

Virgil van Dijk guided a header wide of the mark from a Mohamed Salah free-kick, while Liverpool’s No.11 again provided for Gakpo.

Gakpo sprinted in on goal from the left channel during a quick counter, though saw his shot cannon back off the woodwork.

United, however, were seeing opportunities of their own to double the lead.

Fernandes side-footed wide off the outside of the post before Mamardashvili was forced into a quick reaction tackle as a ball bobbled across the box and to the feet of Mbeumo in the middle.

The goalkeeper then raced to his feet quickly to deny Mason Mount’s follow-up drive from outside the box down to his left.

At the other end, Gakpo saw a deflected cross hit the inside of the post, while Salah’s back-post header was well saved.

Alexander Isak also forced Senne Lammens into a good save with his feet before the interval, having burst through to meet Ibrahima Konate’s forward ball.

Second half

Liverpool began after the half-time break on the front foot and signalled their immediate intent.

Gakpo again threatened from the left flank, bringing down a ball in the box after a short set-piece to crash another effort emphatically onto the far post.

Mac Allister also shot over, while on the hour the Reds opted for a triple substitution, introducing Hugo Ekitike, Florian Wirtz and Curtis Jones from the bench.

Ekitike made an immediate impact by cutting in from the left and firing a shot over the bar, while Salah saw a half-volley inside the box fly past the post.

Federico Chiesa also stepped into the contest to aid the attack for Liverpool with a little under 20 minutes remaining.

His introduction sparked the threat required, setting up Gakpo for the levelling strike in minute 78.

Following a spell of pressure in the final third, Chiesa squared from the left across the six-yard box to find his teammate, who made no mistake from close range to restore parity.

However, six minutes from time, United got themselves back in front.

An Mbeumo shot deflected out to Fernandes on the left, with the midfielder lofting a ball into the box for Maguire to meet and place a header back across into the bottom corner of the net.

Liverpool attempted a response in the closing stages but were unable to find another goal to take anything from the game.

Attendance: 60,337