Liverpool produced a complete performance and Mohamed Salah became the club’s record Premier League goalscorer as Manchester United stormed to a jubilant Anfield.
United’s renaissance under manager Erik ten Hague already has the solid prize of the Carabao Cup but Liverpool delivered a brutal reality check on their progress with a crushing blow.
With Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford in action, Liverpool took control of a tight game, with former Old Trafford target Cody Gakpo applying a smooth finish to Andy Robertson’s perfect pass two minutes before the break.
The second half was a tale of sheer joy for Liverpool and utter misery for United, beginning after 47 minutes when Darwin Nunez’s header deflected Harvey Elliott’s cross past goalkeeper David Deegee.
The Egyptian got on the scoresheet himself before resuming his long-running role as United’s tormentor, teeing up Lisandro Martinez for another brilliant finish three minutes later.
Salah finished off a quick counter-attack by lashing in De Gea’s pass and the rout continued as Nunes headed home another header from Jordan Henderson’s cross.
Salah then became Liverpool’s top Premier League goalscorer with 129, overtaking Robbie Fowler in sixth. He is also Liverpool’s top scorer with 12 against Manchester United – and 10 of those have come in his last five matches.
And in a fitting finish, Roberto Firmino – who has announced he is leaving Anfield at the end of the season – made it 7-0 from close range to complete a brilliant game.
It is the biggest win in the fixture’s history, passing Liverpool’s 7-1 victory in the 1895–96 Second Division.
Liverpool are now an ominous presence in the chase for the Champions League places, just three points behind Tottenham with a game in hand.
Liverpool find the fire and fury
Liverpool have resembled a shadow of their true selves this season. Old guarantees, like intensity and firepower, are largely absent.
They all came back here – and how – in spectacular fashion as Manchester United, who have been undergoing a renaissance this season, were blown away by a team that absolutely cried foul.
Once Jurgen Klopp’s side took control of a tightly contested game just before half-time, they were ruthless. They scored seven runs, and missed opportunities to score more.
Klopp wanted this to be a crucial week in the race for the top four as his side look to salvage something from a season that has been below par so far.
His players responded. Wolverhampton Wanderers were beaten at Anfield and United were, to put it mildly, outclassed.
Liverpool won 5-0 at Old Trafford and 4-0 at Anfield in the Premier League last season, while United won 2-1 at home earlier this campaign to end Ten Hague’s tenure. can be carried forward. In this catalog
Gakpo was on United’s wanted list before his move to Liverpool in January and his two impressive performances showed why Ten Hague is a fan. Nunez showed his growing threat with a double while Salah always rose to the occasion against United and punished them again and again.
There was even a perfect finish to a goal in front of the Kop for Firmino, who announced on Friday that he will end a great Liverpool career at the end of this season.
Liverpool manager Klopp resisted a fist-pump celebration in front of the Kop – but the day couldn’t have gone better for him.
Embarrassment for Man Utd
In seven days, Manchester United have gone from the high of their first trophy since 2017 with a Carabao Cup win to the pain of utter humiliation at Anfield against Newcastle United at Wembley.
Incredibly, United were right in the game for 43 minutes, with Fernandes and Rashford missing two of the game’s best chances, before Gakpo scored and the sky fell for Ten Hague’s side.
United have a huge fixture schedule but the manner in which they surrendered would be an embarrassment to the manager, players and fans. There can be no excuse.
Argentina defender Martinez, normally very reliable and combative, was taken apart, especially when Salah guided him to set up a gappo to settle the game with Liverpool’s third five minutes after half-time. of
Losing against Liverpool is a painful business at any time but to be on the end of a losing streak in this match will send shockwaves through Old Trafford. They would have thought it couldn’t get any worse than the 5-0 home thrashing last season – but it was and was in front of a rousing Anfield.
Manchester United must now lick their wounds and return to Europa League action at home to Real Betis on Thursday – and those wounds will be scarred after this defeat at home to their arch-rivals.
