Liverpool let Manchester United off the hook today. In the biggest clash in English football, with the Red Devils basking in a comeback Champions League win against Atalanta while the Reds managed a gruelling victory over Atletico Madrid in the same competition, Liverpool won 5-0 but could have scored twice as many, having taken their foot off their gas after scoring the fifth on 50 minutes and then playing for half an hour against 10 men – Paul Pogba was sent off for a vicious tackle on Naby Keita, which saw the Reds’ midfielder stretchered off.
With Fabinho out with a knee injury, Keita – who was subbed off against Atletico after two defensive errors cost two goals – was in, as was Ibrahim Konate for Joel Matip – the French defender’s pace being deemed necessary in confronting Marcus Rashford and Mason Greenwood – and Diogo Jota for Sadio Mané, and it was the Guinean who started the rout on five minutes, finding himself in acres of space in the United area after being found by Mohammed Salah and then slotting past David de Gea.
A second came eight minutes later, a tap in for Jota after a mix up between Harry Maguire and Luke Shaw saw the ball break to Trent Alexander Arnold on the right and he slid it across the six yard box for the Portuguese striker to score.
Manchester United managed for the next phase of the match to play better to try and get themselves back into the game, but on 37 minutes they were delivered a knock out blow when, after some excellent one touch passing, the ball ricocheted to Keita on the right of the area and his near post cross was met by Salah who side footed home.
Frustration and anger took over United and Cristiano Ronaldo was lucky not to see a red card after tangling and then kicking out at Curtis Jones – on for the injured James Milner – but further punishment was not far away when just before half time Salah was found by Jota on the right of the United area and the Egyptian maestro stroked the ball into the back of the net to give Liverpool an unbelievable 4-0 lead going into the second period.
Salah completed his hat trick on 50 minutes, after Roberto Firmino and Jordan Henderson caught Pogba on the ball in the centre circle allowing Henderson the chance to play a perfect ball with the outside of the foot to the Egyptian in the box who flicked it past the onrushing De Gea for 5-0.
Man United’s humiliation was deepened when Ronaldo saw a goal chalked off by VAR for a marginal offside, then Pogba, who’d come on as a second half sub, was sent off for a reckless challenge on Keita.
Liverpool looked set to run up a cricket score. But, despite a good effort from Alexander Arnold brilliantly saved by De Gea, and a couple of other speculative long range attempts, Liverpool seemed satisfied with five, not fully taking advantage of United’s raggedness.
The only downside for Liverpool was the injury to Keita, which comes of top of injuries to Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara, Harvey Elliott and James Milner, which means Liverpool’s midfield is seriously depleted, with Jordan Henderson, Curtis Jones and Alex Oxlade Chamberlain finishing today’s game.
Today’s victory maintains Liverpool’s unbeaten start to the season and puts them up to second, one point behind league leaders Chelsea, who similarly crushed Norwich 7-0 yesterday. Manchester City also cruised to victory in the weekend games, beating Brighton 4-1, as the three teams likely to contend for the title fight flexed their muscles.
Next up for the Reds is a Carabao Cup away tie against Preston North End, when no doubt Jurgen Klopp will make wholesale changes to rest first team players for the next Premier League game, which is against Brighton at home next Saturday.
Liverpool looked set to run up a cricket score. But, despite a good effort from Alexander Arnold brilliantly saved by De Gea, and a couple of other speculative long range attempts, Liverpool seemed satisfied with five, not fully taking advantage of United’s raggedness.
The only downside for Liverpool was the injury to Keita, which comes of top of injuries to Fabinho, Thiago Alcantara, Harvey Elliott and James Milner, which means Liverpool’s midfield is seriously depleted, with Jordan Henderson, Curtis Jones and Alex Oxlade Chamberlain finishing today’s game.
Today’s victory maintains Liverpool’s unbeaten start to the season and puts them up to second, one point behind league leaders Chelsea, who similarly crushed Norwich 7-0 yesterday. Manchester City also cruised to victory in the weekend games, beating Brighton 4-1, as the three teams likely to contend for the title fight flexed their muscles.
Next up for the Reds is a Carabao Cup away tie against Preston North End, when no doubt Jurgen Klopp will make wholesale changes to rest first team players for the next Premier League game, which is against Brighton at home next Saturday.
