Harry Maguire's late header condemned Liverpool to their fourth straight defeat as Manchester United beat the Premier League champions 2-1 at Anfield.

Cody Gakpo, who had earlier hit the woodwork three times, thought he had rescued at least a point for Liverpool when he tucked home from Federico Chiesa's cross in the 78th minute.

Yet just as the home faithful fancied another comeback win was in the offing, Bruno Fernandes crossed in brilliantly for Maguire, who slammed a header into the left-hand corner.

Liverpool spent only seven minutes of the match on level terms, with United having gone ahead inside 62 seconds when Bryan Mbeumo capitalised on a mix-up between Virgil van Dijk and Ibrahima Konate.

Gakpo almost single-handedly restored parity on three occasions, while Alexander Isak and Mohamed Salah squandered huge chances for Liverpool.

But United had opportunities of their own – not least when Fernandes struck the upright with plenty of the goal to aim at in the first half – and Liverpool's defensive fragility came back to bite them again when Maguire rose highest in the 84th minute.

United's win lifts them up into the top half, and for all their struggles this season, Ruben Amorim's team are just two points behind fourth-placed Liverpool, who have lost four straight games in all competitions for the first time since November 2014.

Data Debrief: A long time coming

This is United's first Premier League away win against Liverpool since January 2016, ending a run of nine league games without victory at Anfield (D5 L4).

United have also now won back-to-back Premier League games for the first time since winning their final two games of the 2023-24 season and their opening game of the 2024-25 campaign.

But there is some grim reading for those of a Liverpool persuasion. Since the beginning of May, the Reds have conceded 2+ goals in more Premier League games than any other side, doing so in eight of their 12 league matches.  

Salah was particularly ineffective. He has now gone seven consecutive Premier League appearances without scoring a non-penalty goal for the very first time in his Liverpool career.

Amorim, though, is only the third boss to win both of his first two Premier League away games at reigning champions, after Manuel Pellegrini and Antonio Conte.