Mohamed Salah scored a brace to help Liverpool produce one of the biggest margins of defeat football scores in the history of the Premier League. Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez, and Mohamed Salah each scored twice in an incredible effort by Jurgen Klopp’s side before Roberto Firmino added the seventh as United capitulated amid loud celebrations from the home crowd. Erik ten Hag’s side entered the game on an 11-game unbeaten streak and fresh from ending a six-year trophy drought, but were absolutely outclassed, allowing six second-half goals amid a raucous atmosphere on a never-to-be-forgotten afternoon for Liverpool fans. United had chances in the first half, with Bruno Fernandes and Marcus Rashford both missing fine chances, but two goals in quick succession early in the second half led to a thumping as United capitulated.
Nobody could have imagined this at halftime, but Liverpool started with tremendous intensity, pushing hard for the opener with Salah in the lead and Andy Robertson raiding down the left, although clear-cut chances for the home side took some time to emerge. Lisandro Martinez’s elbow on Salah, which was unnoticed by the authorities, added to the home crowd’s early sense of displeasure, and United really had the better chances while the game remained scoreless. Fernandes took a wrong turn. Rashford ended comfortably.
When Casemiro’s header was ruled out for clear offside, the momentum appeared to be with the visitors, who had taken advantage of the storm and luck, but Gakpo’s intervention reversed that. Robertson slipped him in and he cut inside to finish ferociously into the far corner. Anfield burst into flames. With a one-point lead at the half, the game appeared to be in the balance, but that quickly changed. Harvey Elliott stood up a cross for Nunez to head home from close range after Luke Shaw’s poor ball. That was a watershed moment for the much-maligned Uruguayan.
Salah set up the third goal, making Martinez look foolish on the flank before threading a pass-through for Gakpo to score beautifully yet again. Liverpool was in a good mood, with confidence flowing throughout the team, and the intensity that had appeared to have faded. Salah added a fourth goal on the counter-attack after the ball rebounded his way following Nunez’s breakaway, the Egyptian smashing the ball high into David De Gea’s net. United was taken aback. Liverpool was simply starving for more.
Nunez scored his second header of the game shortly after, leaving the field beside Gakpo, both men earning rousing applause from the crowd. But, the turmoil did not end there. Salah scored after more sloppy United defending to become Liverpool’s all-time Premier League goalscorer. All that was left was for Firmino to have his chance. The news that he would be departing the club in the summer broke this week, and the Brazilian was greeted warmly, scoring the seventh goal on one of the great Anfield nights.
“I believe it is a significant difference considering we were 4-0 down at halftime at Brentford. We were the better team in the opening half today. We had the better chances in the first half, with two one-on-ones with the goalkeeper, but they didn’t convert,” Manchester United head coach Erik ten Hag said. “We made one mistake and lost a goal, but we were still in the game, so it was surprising that we gave the game away so fast after halftime. We made poor decisions with the ball, and the way we anticipated and conceded the second goal was vexing. The third is a counter, which is so unprofessional, not following in, and not tracking back, especially on that one. The game was lost at 3-0.”
“It was breathtaking. Even the opening of the game was fast and furious, which was just what we needed. We played excellent football against a strong team. United have had a fantastic season; we are not pleased with ours, but that is irrelevant to the game,” Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp said. “We were the superior team. It’s a crucial three points. There are 13 games left, and there are plenty of points to be had. Tonight was ideal. Everyone needs to sense us and know we’re still here. It wasn’t always like this. We demonstrated tonight what we could be, what we can be, and what we must be going forward. We don’t discuss the score; we only discuss the performance.”
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