HARRY MAGUIRE venting his spleen while Mo Salah celebrated at Anfield in 2022 threatened to be the defining image of his Manchester United career.
Instead, Maguire will now be mentioned in the same breath as Wayne Rooney, Juan Mata, John O’Shea and even Diego Forlan, who all silenced the Scousers.
Maguire’s agency announced his move to United in 2019 with a snap of him celebrating a leveller for Leicester at Anfield. He went one better on Sunday.
The only criticism some United-supporting friends in the away end had of Maguire was he did not charge towards them in celebration after his 84th-minute winner.
Having opted for a knee slide and staring down Liverpudlians, he eventually headed to the United section and raised his arms aloft gladiatorially.
Maguire admitted after the 2-1 victory: “I didn’t know where I was in the stadium when I put it in.
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“When you’re in that moment you don’t realise. But after I’d wheeled away to the other end I felt like I needed to celebrate in front of the United fans.
“They’ve been amazing with me throughout my time here. Really special moment for me to give it back to them.”
Maguire can be assured of lifelong adoration from all of them now. For Anfield and for his heart-stopping 121st-minute winner against Lyon in April.
Even before Sunday, Maguire’s name has been drawing some of the loudest cheers from United fans at Old Trafford.
He was treated to a warm ovation last month when director of football Jason Wilcox presented him with a frame to commemorate his 250th appearance for the club.
Maguire, 32, can now fairly be considered as one of United’s top signings of the post-Ferguson era. That alone signals a remarkable turnaround from two years ago.
Yet with his contract up in the summer, he knows Sunday may have been his final Prem game for United at rivals Liverpool.
He added: “It’s been on my mind a little bit.
“I’m in my last year now, so this could be the last time I played at Anfield for this club.
“So it’s really important that I’ve come here and ticked that one off.”
Maguire was stripped of the captaincy by Erik ten Hag in July 2023 and a £30million transfer to West Ham collapsed a month later as United could not supplement his salary.
His stock was so low that Arsenal supporters cheered his arrival as a substitute on his first appearance that season with the game deadlocked at 1-1.
Arsenal won 3-1.
Yet Maguire has emerged as a captain without the armband at United.
He won over their genuine supporters — not the casual attendants who booed him on pre-season tours — two years ago when he ironically became one of Ten Hag’s most important players.
Figures at United have noticed Maguire is a better communicator with the press now Bruno Fernandes is the official captain. Maguire is an engaging and candid talker and conducts himself like a senior player.
Man Utd ratings vs Liverpool
MANCHESTER UNITED secured a famous win away at Liverpool courtesy of a late Harry Maguire header.
The Red Devils had not won at Anfield since 2016, but Ruben Amorim’s bold tactical moves paid off.
Though they did have to rely on a bad day in front of goal for their hosts as both Mo Salah and Cody Gakpo missed sitters.
Whereas down the other end, Bryan Mbeumo scored after less than two minutes with a shot that Georgi Mamardashvili may feel he should have kept out.
Gakpo did get on the scoresheet with one of his many chances as he tapped in almost on the goal-line.
But Man Utd weathered a storm from the Reds and Bruno Fernandes’ brilliant assist allowed Harry Maguire to head home the winner.
Here’s how SunSport’s Samuel Luckhurst rated the Red Devils’ stars.
One of the abiding memories of Maguire is of him reacting to the fortuitous FA Cup semi-final penalty-shootout win over Coventry by heading to shake hands with the opponents.
Antony, in contrast, cupped his ears embarrassingly and set off on a celebratory charge.
Antony was never a proper United player. Maguire is.
Ruben Amorim’s management of Maguire has been impeccable.
Whereas Ten Hag tried to cut ties with Maguire, Amorim wants him tied down.
Maguire’s representatives have held discussions about a new contract and his form these past two years would merit it.
Amorim pushed for the one-year extension in Maguire’s deal to be triggered in January and he has since added him to the new leadership group.
I’m in my last year now, so this could be the last time I played at Anfield for this club.
Harry Maguire
It got lost amid the fallout from the Carabao Cup humiliation at Grimsby but Maguire led United out for the first time since Ten Hag yanked the armband off of him.
Even on that numbing night, it was Maguire who rose to equalise and send the match to penalties. All four of his goals last season were big — three winners and an equaliser. Three in added time.
Now well into his thirties, Maguire has managed his past two pre-seasons meticulously.
He had double training sessions with United staff while on holiday in Portugal after missing out on Euro 2024 through injury.
This summer, United eased Maguire back from injury, with just one start during pre-season and limiting his warm-up time as a substitute at Fulham.
Maguire’s importance is felt when he is off the pitch.
After Amorim substituted Maguire against Chelsea last month, United conceded from a Reece James cross. He did not dare hook Maguire after he put United back in front at Anfield.
Sir Alex Ferguson half-joked United should have locked Maguire in the Old Trafford boardroom during protracted negotiations with Leicester six years ago.
Maguire is a throwback to Ferguson stalwarts Gary Pallister and Steve Bruce but such a polished passer that he was a mainstay in England sides that reached a World Cup semi-final and Euros final.
There is no way Jarell Quansah and Dan Burn — two centre-halves picked in Thomas Tuchel’s last England squad — are better options.
If Tuchel wants an imposing leader-type like Burn, he has an upgrade in Maguire, the veteran of three major tournaments.
United fans do not hugely care for England and Maguire’s exile can only be to their advantage.
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His freshness contributed to his recall at Anfield.
And resulted in one of the defining images of his United career.
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