Liverpool maintained its pursuit of the Premier League title with a 2-1 victory over Wolverhampton on Sunday, while Manchester United’s struggles continued with a 1-0 defeat to Tottenham. The disparity between England’s two most historically successful clubs couldn’t be clearer.
With this win, Liverpool regained a seven-point cushion over Arsenal atop the standings, inching closer to matching Manchester United’s record of 20 league titles. Conversely, Manchester United has now lost 12 league matches this season and sits precariously in 15th place after James Maddison’s goal for Tottenham in the first half.
Once a dominant force in English football under former manager Alex Ferguson, United now faces another challenging season, extending their wait for a league title to 12 years. The club hasn’t clinched the championship since Ferguson’s final season in 2013, and Ruben Amorim is the sixth permanent manager tasked with bringing the team back to its former glory. However, his tenure has so far been rife with difficulties.
Amorim expressed understanding of the fans’ frustrations and the media’s critical view, stating, “I am not worried. I hate to lose that feeling. My job is to help my players, and I want to win games.” Despite his confident demeanor, the 12th defeat in his 21 matches in all competitions highlights the uphill battle he faces.
On Sunday, against a Tottenham side facing its own challenges, Maddison’s goal in the 13th minute proved decisive. Although some Spurs fans protested against their chairman, Daniel Levy, highlighting their dissatisfaction with the club’s management, this victory for Tottenham marked the third time they’ve triumphed over United this season, with the potential for a fourth meeting if both progress in the Europa League.
While United finds itself 12 points above the relegation zone, being only three positions from the bottom is concerning, especially as they’re eight points away from the top half of the table. Liverpool, on the other hand, had to fend off a comeback from Wolves, who equalized with a stunning long-range effort from Matheus Cunha.
Liverpool secured the win with first-half goals from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah; however, their performance dipped after halftime, leading to a lack of shots on target and increased pressure from Wolves. “We know 2-0 can be a dangerous scoreline,” noted Liverpool defender Andrew Robertson. “When they scored, it made everyone—players and fans alike—nervous.” Diaz netted Liverpool’s first goal shortly after kickoff, while Salah extended his remarkable scoring streak with a penalty kick for the second goal. Yet, with Wolves pushing hard for a comeback, Liverpool had to work diligently to maintain their lead.
Injuries have severely affected United’s squad, even leading coach Amorim to field eight teenagers on the bench, none with prior senior experience. The ongoing injury crisis has sidelined key players, including Amad Diallo with an ankle injury and Lisandro Martinez with a major knee issue, forcing Amorim to delay his substitutions.
Outside the stadium, Tottenham fans demonstrated their discontent with chairman Daniel Levy and ownership, expressing their frustrations with banners proclaiming “Profits before glory” and “We want our club back.” This protest reflects the overall dissatisfaction with the team’s performance, considering their last trophy was the League Cup in 2008.
