Now, as Manchester United's first win at Anfield in nearly a decade has calmed down, attention is starting to turn to something the "Red Devils" have struggled with for the past two years. That is maintaining the momentum of sublimation.
The 2-1 win at Anfield was a real source of pride, but it was not the first time Man United have overcome low expectations to get a big result against a top team.
Last season, under Ruben Amorim, Man United held The Kop to a 2-2 draw at Anfield, defeating Arsenal in the FA Cup (due to a penalty shootout), winning a thrilling victory over Manchester City, and destroying Athletic Bilbao with a total score of 7-1 in the Europa League semi-finals. However, those seemingly landmark results quickly became the wrong start to the downturn.
After the victory at the Emirates, Man United had to struggle to come back to defeat bottom-placed Southampton, then lost 3 of their next 4 matches in the Premier League. After a thrilling win over City at the Etihad, they have lost four games in a row in all competitions.
Even the big win over Athletic Bilbao was caught between defeats against Brentford and West Ham - before ending with a loss to Tottenham in the Europa League final.
More than anyone, Amorim understands this problem very well. In an interview after Harry Maguire's late goal, he was quick to focus on the next game, concluding with the affirmation: "Today is a good day, and now I'm worried about Brighton".
Liverpool manager Arne Slot did not give much credit to Man United's tactics at Anfield, calling them a "long-term team" and emphasizing the way the visitors deploy a deep defensive system. However, in reality, what the Liverpool captain did was to praise the "Red Devils" for catching up with modern trends and clearly understanding the practical direction of the Premier League today.
According to Opta's analysis of the first 50 matches of this season, the playing style in the Premier League is becoming more direct and practical than ever. "route-one" tactics - long passes or strong throw-ins - are increasingly popular.
The number of short passes has dropped to a 15-year low, while even top teams - including Liverpool - have taken the ball forward faster and with less coordination.
Amorim admitted that he was initially shocked by the fierce physical intensity of the Premier League, as well as the fact that teams relied heavily on set pieces. However, despite remaining loyal to the 3-4-3 formation, Amorim is becoming more flexible and practical in his approach.
The former Sporting boss encouraged goalkeepers like Lammens and Bayindir to serve long balls after replacing Onana, while making the most of Diogo Dalot's long-range throw-in ability as a new tactical weapon.
Although Man United fans have always craved an attractive attacking style of play, they are not too strict about how the team moves forward.
A few weeks ago, Amorim said that loyal fans at Old Trafford "are very easy to please". Therefore, he should consider Slot's comments as an underlying compliment. This could be the motivation for Man United to become more sophisticated and efficient in their approach to the game.
