1<\/p>\n
Amorim gets his tactics spot on<\/p>\n
The high-stakes duel in one of the fiercest rivalries in the English game came down to a crucial in-game management decision. Arne Slot, a manager lauded for smart substitutions last season, took a gamble in the 62nd minute, making three changes that aggressively shifted Liverpool<\/a> into a 4-2-4, leaving Curtis Jones and Florian Wirtz dangerously exposed in midfield. The gamble initially appeared worthwhile: after rattling the post twice, Cody Gakpo finally delivered a 78th-minute equaliser to breathe some life into the deflated Anfield crowd. But Ruben Amorim remained calm and trusted his vision. Liverpool were undone just six minutes later after Bruno Fernandes\u2019s fantastic cross found Harry Maguire inexplicably alone at the far post, the lack of defensive bodies evident as he thumped in the winner. Slot was hoping for a high-risk, high-reward outcome but ultimately, United\u2019s grit in the second half paid off. Amorim has his critics \u2013 droves of them \u2013 but his tactics, including starting Maguire, were vindicated to earn United\u2019s first win at Anfield since 2016. Two league wins on the bounce is a first for Amorim at United. Are the wheels shifting? \u201cIt\u2019s an embarrassing stat to have had,\u201d said Maguire. \u201cWe have to start putting a bit more consistency together. We have set a benchmark.\u201d Yara El-Shaboury<\/p>\n Match report: Liverpool 1-2 Manchester United<\/a><\/p>\n 2<\/p>\n Spurs struggle to paper over cracks<\/p>\n Tottenham began the day aiming to go second in the table, yet ended it pondering all-too familiar failings. Despite dominating for long periods Thomas Frank\u2019s side created few clearcut chances, reflecting their continued problems playing at home, where they have won just three of their last 18 league games, and taken only four points this season. Mohammed Kudus and Wilson Odobert are threatening from wide areas, but Xavi Simons has not settled and Mathys Tel looks raw, which suggests scoring goals will continue to be an issue, particularly against deep-lying defences. Were it not for an impressive haul of 10 points out of a possible 12 away from home the boos that greeted the final whistle would have been far louder. Matt Hughes<\/p>\n 3<\/p>\n Gunners sharpen focus at Fulham<\/p>\n For Arsenal<\/a> this was another day like all the others: the Kind Of Game You Just Have to Win To Be Champions. Maybe one day Arsenal will play a Game You Don\u2019t Have To Win, or a Game You Would Just Quite Like To Win. But not yet. There will be questions of course. One: is it boring to win like winning is everything when winning is everything (answer: no). And two, is there a case of Bukayo Saka dependence here? Saka was both brilliant against Fulham and also the only sharp creative element as Victor Gy\u00f6keres battered away and Eberechi Eze had a quiet day. It is hard to see too much wrong in channeling your main threat through a very good, very reliable academy-reared player. Could be worse eh? Plus Kai Havertz will be back next month and may play ahead of Gy\u00f6keres in The Super Vital Games You Really Really Have To Win. Behind all this the key stat is still one goal conceded from open play all season. This is how you win a league. And it\u2019s deceptively hard to do. Barney Ronay<\/p>\n 4<\/p>\n Maresca swats away disciplinary issues<\/p>\n Ange Postecoglou\u2019s misery was Chelsea\u2019s satisfaction. Victory at Nottingham Forest<\/a> was Chelsea\u2019s third in a row before hosting Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday. The frustrating thing for Enzo Maresca was he had to watch from the directors\u2019 box, a few rows below Evangelos Marinakis, who departed the stadium at 2-0; Maresca served a touchline ban after being sent off against Liverpool and Malo Gusto\u2019s red card late on against Forest, after picking up a second yellow, raised further questions of ill-discipline. Chelsea have received five red cards in six matches, including Maresca\u2019s. The Italian argued there is context behind the sendings-off, in this case stating Gusto was desperate to keep a clean sheet, though in reality the versatile defender needlessly fouled Neco Williams midway inside the Forest half, with the hosts trailing 3-0 and going nowhere fast. \u201cIt is something we can do better, but I\u2019m not concerned,\u201d Maresca said. \u201cBut, for sure, we can avoid it.\u201d Ben Fisher<\/p>\n Unlike Evangelos Marinakis, Enzo Maresca, the Chelsea manager, watched the entirety of their match at the City Ground from the stands. Photograph: Michael Regan\/Getty Images<\/p>\n 5<\/p>\n Minteh shows what might have been<\/p>\n As Anthony Elanga struggled for Newcastle, a player who got away, Yankuba Minteh, showed what Eddie Howe missed out on. After struggling to meet profit and sustainability rules, Newcastle had to cash out Minteh to Brighton for \u00a330m and Elliot Anderson to Nottingham Forest for \u00a335m in the summer of 2024, a continued source of regret. Anderson has become an England regular and, even if Lewis Miley showed off his talents as a half-time sub, Newcastle\u2019s midfield department is bare beyond Sandro Tonali, Joelinton and Bruno Guimar\u00e3es. Minteh is ideal for Fabian H\u00fcrzeler\u2019s high-pressing, quick transition game, his speed a surrogate for the absence of the injured Kaoru Mitoma. He would suit Newcastle, too. Dan Burn had a torrid afternoon against his old club; Minteh ran rings round the team he never played a match for. Coincidentally, his time on Newcastle\u2019s books included him impressing on loan at Arne Slot\u2019s Feyenoord. John Brewin<\/p>\n 6<\/p>\n Guardiola runs rule over Rodri deputies<\/p>\n Pep Guardiola said Rodri\u2019s hamstring injury will continue to rule him out for Manchester City\u2019s next two games \u2013 at least. \u201cI don\u2019t think [he will be available] for Villarreal or Aston Villa. It\u2019s not [for] long, but it\u2019s muscular and you have to be careful. We\u2019ve tried so many times [to ease him back]. We\u2019ve tried to not take a risk, but we have not been able to [prevent more setbacks]. So we will see,\u201d said the manager. To potentially deputise, Guardiola has the returning Mateo Kovacic, whose 86th-minute substitute appearance was a first for City this term after an achilles problem. \u201cKovacic has a special quality with the ball to keep it, but we cannot forget he came after surgery and a three or four month injury.\u201d Nico O\u2019Reilly may also be unavailable for the Champions League trip to Villarreal. \u201cA knock I think,\u201d said Guardiola. \u201cWe\u2019ll see.\u201d Jamie Jackson<\/p>\n skip past newsletter promotion<\/a><\/p>\n Sign up to Football Daily<\/p>\n Kick off your evenings with the Guardian’s take on the world of football<\/p>\n Privacy Notice: Newsletters may contain information about charities, online ads, and content funded by outside parties. If you do not have an account, we will create a guest account for you on theguardian.com<\/a> to send you this newsletter. You can complete full registration at any time. For more information about how we use your data see our Privacy Policy<\/a>. We use Google reCaptcha to protect our website and the Google Privacy Policy<\/a> and Terms of Service<\/a> apply.<\/p>\n after newsletter promotion<\/p>\n Pep Guardiola ponders his options on the sidelines. Photograph: Xinhua\/Shutterstock<\/p>\n 7<\/p>\n Kroupi shows quality in striking style<\/p>\n In the absence of Evanilson with a calf injury that could also keep him out of next week\u2019s meeting with Nottingham Forest, Eli Junior Kroupi took his opportunity on his first league start by scoring twice against Crystal Palace<\/a> in a 3-3 thriller that showed the 19-year-old could prove to be a shrewd investment. Signed from Bournemouth\u2019s sister club Lorient for around \u00a312m and sent back on loan to finish as top scorer in Ligue 2 last season, the son of a prolific striker with the same first name, who helped the French side win the 2002 Coupe de France, already has three Premier League goals and also scored twice for France\u2019s Under-21s last week. \u201cHe\u2019s a goalscorer because he smells the chances,\u201d said the Bournemouth manager, Andoni Iraola. \u201cHe\u2019s someone who is very aware of the second balls, where the balls can finish. He\u2019s a good finisher. But obviously, he still has a lot of things to improve. The physicality, the rhythm, a lot of things that he has to learn.\u201d Ed Aarons<\/p>\n 8<\/p>\n Mbeumo starting to make his mark<\/p>\n It had barely been a minute at Anfield before the controversy began. Bryan Mbeumo struck quickly for the visitors but, in the frantic buildup, Virgil van Dijk had elbowed his own teammate Alexis Mac Allister in the head while challenging Mbeumo for a header. Liverpool were furious as United celebrated in front of the Kop, arguing Michael Oliver should have stopped play under concussion protocol, though Van Dijk admitted post-match that \u201cthere was still plenty of football left to be played\u201d. The opener cemented a purposefully aggressive start from Manchester United<\/a> \u2013 a rarity from them at Anfield in recent years \u2013 and Mbeumo provided the high-intensity pressing and work ethic the club have desperately lacked. For a club heavily criticised for their recent transfer decisions, the 26-year-old is starting to look like an astute bit of business. YE-S<\/p>\n Bryan Mbeumo laps up the acclaim from the travelling fans, and Amad Diallo, after opening the scoring at Anfield. Photograph: Phil Noble\/Reuters<\/p>\n 9<\/p>\n Pereira faces crucial test as woes resume<\/p>\n Will Wolves secure their first league win of the season at home to Burnley or at Fulham? If not, , the head coach, V\u00edtor Pereira, could really be in trouble. In losing 2-0 to a once again impressive, upwardly mobile Sunderland<\/a>, it was telling that Wolves did not test R\u00e9gis Le Bris\u2019s goalkeeper, Robin Roefs, until the 70th minute. Pereira admits that J\u00f8rgen Strand Larsen is \u201cstruggling\u201d. The Norway striker is without a league goal this season but, in mitigation, a player disappointed not to join Newcastle in August is carrying an achilles injury and barely able to train between games. Pereira, meanwhile, remains convinced his defensively fragile team will come good. \u201cIf in one minute of my work I feel that my players are not with me, that is the end, but I didn\u2019t feel it,\u201d he said. \u201cI feel they are frustrated but this is a moment when I need to help them.\u201d Louise Taylor<\/p>\n 10<\/p>\n Burnley reap rewards of Florentino move<\/p>\n