Harry Maguire headed home the winner as Manchester United condemned champions Liverpool to a third Premier League defeat in row after a 2-1 victory at Anfield on Sunday.
Ruben Amorim's side had taken the lead after just two minutes when Bryan Mbeumo slotted home after receiving a ball from Amad Diallo.
Liverpool felt the game should have been stopped just before the goal after Alexis Mac Alllister hit the deck after being elbowed in the head by teammate Virgil van Dijk.
It took until the 78th minute for Liverpool to find the back of the net when Cody Gakpo side footed home from a metre out following a move involving substitutes Florian Wirtz and Federico Chiesa.
It was a deserved goal for the Dutchman who had hit the woodwork three times, albeit one of those was a cross that took a wicked deflection.
But United were not to be undone as Maguire headed home a looping Bruno Fernandes cross with six minutes to go to earn his team their first win at Anfield since January 2016 while Liverpool lost for a fourth game on the trot across all competitions.
Remarkably, it was also the first time Amorim has won successive Premier League games in what was his best moment since taking over as United manager in November 2024.
Player ratings
Liverpool (4-2-3-1)
Giorgi Mamardashvili - 7/10: Alisson Becker's stand-in was exposed by leaky defence for both goals. Not the commanding presence of Brazilian but did nothing wrong - bar one spilled cross in first half - at Anfield.
Conor Bradley - 7/10: Keeping Jerome Frimpong out of team, Northern Irishman was solid defensively while also helping Liverpool drive forward down the right when needed. Sacrificed in second-half reshuffle.
Ibrahima Konate - 6/10: Could not close down Mbeumo quick enough for United's opener although had been dropped in it by defensive partner Van Dijk who had gone to sleep. Important block on Fernandes shot in second half but caught out by floating cross ahead of Maguire heading home winner.
Virgil van Dijk - 6/10: Caught out of position and guilty of not tracking Mbeumo's run through middle before Cameroonian scored the fastest goal scored in a Premier League game between these two teams at Anfield. Said after match that Liverpool "have to stick together" after fourth loss in row.
Milos Kerkez - 5/10: Left-back has endured a tough start to his Liverpool career since summer move from Bournemouth and again failed to convince here as United found joy attacking down his flank.
Ryan Gravenberch - 6/10: Had home fans groaning en-masse by sending long ball back to keeper at one point in first half instead of keeping attack going. Had picked up injury while on international duty with the Netherlands and not his usual dominant force in middle of park.
Alexis Mac Allister - 6/10: Wore head protection for rest of game after taking elbow off teammate Van Dijk which Liverpool players believed should have resulted in play being stopped ahead of Mbeumo's goal. Fired shot over bar on hour mark just before he was substituted.
Dominik Szoboszlai - 6/10: Hungarian was on the periphery of the action in midfield role before dropping to right-back as second-half reshuffle as Liverpool chased a leveller.
Cody Gakpo 8/10: Desperately unlucky to see curling finish bounce off post following sweeping move. Watched deflected cross hit woodwork while also nearly scored own-goal, all in first half. Incredibly, hit post again just after break. Deserved to level scores after finishing from close range only to miss easy header with Liverpool 2-1 down.
Mohamed Salah - 5/10: Picked out Gakpo with superb through ball only for Dutch teammate to hit post. United's tormentor-in-chief of years gone by had failed to take a couple of half chances before miscuing a glorious chance wide of target when unmarked at far post in second half. A shadow of the player that scored 34 goals last season.
Alexander Isak 4/10: British record signing dragged his first chance wide just before half-hour mark. Should have scored not long after when put through on goal but low shot was saved. Still showing little of the form that earned his big-money move from Newcastle.
Substitutes
Florian Wirtz (Gravenberch 62’) - 6/10: Involved in build-up to Gakpo goal.
Hugo Ekitike (Mac Allister 62’) - 7/10: Immediately offered attacking drive sending a couple of shots off-target looking a bigger threat than Isak.
Curtis Jones (Bradley 62’) - 6/10: One surging run into box but low finish easily saved.
Federico Chiesa (Isak 72’) - 6/10: Supplied low cross for Gakpo's equaliser
Jeremie Fimpong (Salah 85’) - N/A: Lovely run and cross to lay chance on plate for Gakpo only for Dutchman to miss target.
Manchester Utd (3-4-2-1)
Senne Lammens - 9/10: Key save with his right foot from Isak on 34 minutes and the ball hit his woodwork twice as United rode their luck throughout the game and had only 37 per cent possession. But he was confident, secure and exactly what United need right now.
Matthijs de Ligt - 7/10: Solid, strong, though United collectively allowed too much defensively. The Dutchman has been United’s best defender this season.
Harry Maguire - 9/10: First to the ball almost all match. Including when he won the header to give Manchester United victory. Made the difference when it was needed with a glorious header in front of the away end.
Luke Shaw - 8/10: Assertive and tackled at a vital moment before the break. Much better defensively. Not as involved as usual, but he needed a big game and he had one.
Amad Diallo - 7/10: Set up the opener with a pass with the outside of his foot. Ball hit his hand amid Liverpool penalty appeals on 18. Set up Fernandes, got a yellow for winning the ball.
Casemiro - 7/10: Wore gloves, but he could wear a motorcycle helmet for most United fans if it means he plays on the winning team. Played well, a bit exposed at times which didn’t make him look great defensively but that wasn’t his fault. Yellow after 56.
Bruno Fernandes - 7/10: Played ball out to Amad in the build up to the first. Hit the post with a shot on 24 minutes as United swept forward. Lost possession on 46 minutes and Liverpool attacked, but got away with it. Whipped the 3,000 away fans up. Cross for the winner was exquisite.
Diogo Dalot - 5/10: Lost the ball too much. Switched to right with the subs on 57.
Bryan Mbeumo - 9/10: Put United ahead with a first time right footed strike across goal after a minute in front of the Kop. Van Dijk had failed to track his run. What a moment, even if United were slightly fortunate the game wasn’t stopped. Combined well with Amad. Makes really well timed runs. Takes up consistent positions and makes excellent decisions. His teammates almost always know what he’s going to do and he does it with quality. He’s not selfish. He’s humble, calm and consistent defensively. Technically excellent, powerful and quick.
Matheus Cunha - 8/10: A proper shift. World class at times. Confident, brave and always capable of holding the ball up. Cheers as he went down with cramp after 96 minutes. Sir Alex Ferguson always said you could judge a player by how they played at Anfield. He, Lammens and Mbeumo passed that test.
Mason Mount - 7/10: Tenacious and functional on the left and worth his start as United were excellent offensively in the first half. Off on the hour. Not as eye catching as others but effective.
Substitutes
Patrick Dorgu (Diallo 58’) - 7/10: Went left as usual. Didn’t win his first challenge which led to a Liverpool shot. Good idea to square a 68th minute ball towards Fernandes. Got a foot in to nick the ball and stop a 76th minute Liverpool attack.
Manuel Ugarte (Casemiro 58’) - 7/10: Tidy. Kept the ball really well when he came on and worked hard. Good defensive actions.
Benjamin Sesko (Mount 61’) - 6/10: Another who put a notable shift in.
Kobbie Mainoo (Fernandes 87’) - N/A
Leny Yoro (Shaw 85’) - N/A
Mercer, the investment consulting arm of US services company Marsh & McLennan, expects its wealth division to at least double its assets under management (AUM) in the Middle East as wealth in the region continues to grow despite economic headwinds, a company official said.
Mercer Wealth, which globally has $160 billion in AUM, plans to boost its AUM in the region to $2-$3bn in the next 2-3 years from the present $1bn, said Yasir AbuShaban, a Dubai-based principal with Mercer Wealth.
“Within the next two to three years, we are looking at reaching $2 to $3 billion as a conservative estimate and we do see an opportunity to do so,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Mercer does not directly make investments, but allocates clients’ money they have discretion to, to professional asset managers. They also provide advice to clients.
“We have buying power. We can negotiate on their (client’s) behalf with asset managers to provide them lower fees than they otherwise would have to get on their own,” he added.
Mercer Wealth’s clients include sovereign wealth funds, family offices, and insurance companies among others.
From its office in Dubai, Mercer also looks after Africa, India and Turkey, where they also see opportunity for growth.
Wealth creation in Middle East and Africa (MEA) grew 8.5 per cent to $8.1 trillion last year from $7.5tn in 2015, higher than last year’s global average of 6 per cent and the second-highest growth in a region after Asia-Pacific which grew 9.9 per cent, according to consultancy Boston Consulting Group (BCG). In the region, where wealth grew just 1.9 per cent in 2015 compared with 2014, a pickup in oil prices has helped in wealth generation.
BCG is forecasting MEA wealth will rise to $12tn by 2021, growing at an annual average of 8 per cent.
Drivers of wealth generation in the region will be split evenly between new wealth creation and growth of performance of existing assets, according to BCG.
Another general trend in the region is clients’ looking for a comprehensive approach to investing, according to Mr AbuShaban.
“Institutional investors or some of the families are seeing a slowdown in the available capital they have to invest and in that sense they are looking at optimizing the way they manage their portfolios and making sure they are not investing haphazardly and different parts of their investment are working together,” said Mr AbuShaban.
Some clients also have a higher appetite for risk, given the low interest-rate environment that does not provide enough yield for some institutional investors. These clients are keen to invest in illiquid assets, such as private equity and infrastructure.
“What we have seen is a desire for higher returns in what has been a low-return environment specifically in various fixed income or bonds,” he said.
“In this environment, we have seen a de facto increase in the risk that clients are taking in things like illiquid investments, private equity investments, infrastructure and private debt, those kind of investments were higher illiquidity results in incrementally higher returns.”
The Abu Dhabi Investment Authority, one of the largest sovereign wealth funds, said in its 2016 report that has gradually increased its exposure in direct private equity and private credit transactions, mainly in Asian markets and especially in China and India. The authority’s private equity department focused on structured equities owing to “their defensive characteristics.”
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Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
If you go
The flights
Emirates and Etihad fly direct to Nairobi, with fares starting from Dh1,695. The resort can be reached from Nairobi via a 35-minute flight from Wilson Airport or Jomo Kenyatta International Airport, or by road, which takes at least three hours.
The rooms
Rooms at Fairmont Mount Kenya range from Dh1,870 per night for a deluxe room to Dh11,000 per night for the William Holden Cottage.
Jetour T1 specs
Engine: 2-litre turbocharged
Power: 254hp
Torque: 390Nm
Price: From Dh126,000
Available: Now
South Africa squad
: Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wkt), Theunis de Bruyn, AB de Villiers, Dean Elgar, Heinrich Klaasen (wkt), Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi, Duanne Olivier, Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada.
THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 258hp at 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.4L/100km
Price, base: from D215,000 (Dh230,000 as tested)
On sale: now
Muslim Council of Elders condemns terrorism on religious sites
The Muslim Council of Elders has strongly condemned the criminal attacks on religious sites in Britain.
It firmly rejected “acts of terrorism, which constitute a flagrant violation of the sanctity of houses of worship”.
“Attacking places of worship is a form of terrorism and extremism that threatens peace and stability within societies,” it said.
The council also warned against the rise of hate speech, racism, extremism and Islamophobia. It urged the international community to join efforts to promote tolerance and peaceful coexistence.
THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
German intelligence warnings
- 2002: "Hezbollah supporters feared becoming a target of security services because of the effects of [9/11] ... discussions on Hezbollah policy moved from mosques into smaller circles in private homes." Supporters in Germany: 800
- 2013: "Financial and logistical support from Germany for Hezbollah in Lebanon supports the armed struggle against Israel ... Hezbollah supporters in Germany hold back from actions that would gain publicity." Supporters in Germany: 950
- 2023: "It must be reckoned with that Hezbollah will continue to plan terrorist actions outside the Middle East against Israel or Israeli interests." Supporters in Germany: 1,250
Source: Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution
How to help
Call the hotline on 0502955999 or send "thenational" to the following numbers:
2289 - Dh10
2252 - Dh50
6025 - Dh20
6027 - Dh100
6026 - Dh200
Results:
Men’s wheelchair 200m T34: 1. Walid Ktila (TUN) 27.14; 2. Mohammed Al Hammadi (UAE) 27.81; 3. Rheed McCracken (AUS) 27.81.
The Pope's itinerary
Sunday, February 3, 2019 - Rome to Abu Dhabi
1pm: departure by plane from Rome / Fiumicino to Abu Dhabi
10pm: arrival at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
Monday, February 4
12pm: welcome ceremony at the main entrance of the Presidential Palace
12.20pm: visit Abu Dhabi Crown Prince at Presidential Palace
5pm: private meeting with Muslim Council of Elders at Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque
6.10pm: Inter-religious in the Founder's Memorial
Tuesday, February 5 - Abu Dhabi to Rome
9.15am: private visit to undisclosed cathedral
10.30am: public mass at Zayed Sports City – with a homily by Pope Francis
12.40pm: farewell at Abu Dhabi Presidential Airport
1pm: departure by plane to Rome
5pm: arrival at the Rome / Ciampino International Airport
ESSENTIALS
The flights
Emirates, Etihad and Swiss fly direct from the UAE to Zurich from Dh2,855 return, including taxes.
The chalet
Chalet N is currently open in winter only, between now and April 21. During the ski season, starting on December 11, a week’s rental costs from €210,000 (Dh898,431) per week for the whole property, which has 22 beds in total, across six suites, three double rooms and a children’s suite. The price includes all scheduled meals, a week’s ski pass, Wi-Fi, parking, transfers between Munich, Innsbruck or Zurich airports and one 50-minute massage per person. Private ski lessons cost from €360 (Dh1,541) per day. Halal food is available on request.
