Liverpool crush Man United to go top of the league

 

Liverpool followed their 5-0 thrashing of Manchester United at Old Trafford earlier in the season with another devastating and, at times, arrogant and contemptuous display to brush their historic rivals aside 4-0 to go top of the league table by two points ahead of Manchester City’s home game against Brighton on Wednesday night.

It’s hard to believe how far ahead of Manchester United in terms of quality Liverpool are. The scoreline could have been anything Liverpool wanted had the Reds, after having gone two up after 22 minutes, didn’t relax and feel so comfortable that they seemed to want to show off their superiority and toy with Manchester United rather than put them to the sword.

Thiago Alcantara was magical in midfield. Audible gasps could be heard from the Liverpool faithful at some of his passing. How did he see that angle? How did he execute that pass with such laser-like accuracy? And his passing wasn’t just clever, it was also incisive, catching the opponents by surprise and creating great attacking opportunities. It was perhaps Thiago’s best game for the Reds and he easily won man of the match.

The rout began after five minutes with a chip from Sadio Mané that found Mo Salah in acres of space down the right and his firm accurate cross cut out the retreating Man Utd defence and fell into the path of Luis Diaz who couldn’t miss from four yards out.

Having assisted the first goal, Salah broke his six-game goal drought finishing off an extended piece of superb team play and passing that ended with Joel Matip, finding himself in the number 10 position, playing an incisive pass to Mané on the edge of the area and his exquisite round-the-corner pass fell into the path of Salah and the Egyptian king controlled the ball with one touch then finished with aplomb passed David de Gea.

Salah’s excellent performance will have quietened all those who’ve been saying that since his disappointments with the Egyptian national side – losing in the Afcon final to Senegal and to the same team in the World Cup qualifying playoff – his form for Liverpool has dipped. Yet anyone who saw how strong, fit and engaged Salah was in the FA Cup semi-final win against Manchester City last Saturday would have realised that there was nothing wrong with the Egyptian striker and his goal-scoring touch would return sooner rather than later – which it did today and in spectacular fashion.

Manchester United changed formation at half-time, with Ralf Rangnick abandoning the five at the back and taking off Phil Jones for a more conventional 4-4-2 with Jordan Sancho coming on on the left.

And, indeed, Sancho was at the epicentre of a modest Manchester United revival – and a drop off in Liverpool’s play as their strategy of controlling the game seemed to lead to too much caution, sloppiness in possession and a deterioration in mental sharpness – and fear crept in that rather like Manchester City in the cup Liverpool, having appeared to have won the game, would unnecessarily let the opposition back in.

But Manchester United are not Manchester City and the Red Devils couldn’t take advantage of their 25-minute stronger spell at the beginning of the second half and Liverpool’s deceleration and on 68 minutes Jurgen Klopp’s men finished the game off after Andy Robertson drove into the United half, laid the ball off to Luis Diaz on the the edge of the United area and the Colombian superbly found Mané level with the penalty spot and the Senegalese striker stroked the ball with his left foot into the far post corner passed the outstretched hand of the United keeper.

To prove to his doubters that he was well and truly back to his best, Salah completed the rout on 85 minutes after Diogo Jota – on for Luis Diaz – found Salah in the area and seeing off a challenge from Aaron Wan-Bissaka managed to lift the ball over de Gea and into the back of the net.

Having drawn 3-3 with Benfica and taken the tie 6-4 and secured their place in the Champions League semi-final, which will be played against Villarreal, and earned a place in the FA Cup final (against Chelsea) after seeing off Manchester City, Liverpool have had a spectacular week.

It could get better if Brighton – who have beaten Spurs and Arsenal in their last two games – pull off an unlikely result against Pep Guardiola’s men at the Etihad tomorrow and Liverpool deal with struggling Everton as they should in the Merseyside derby at Anfield on Sunday.

Salah scores three as Liverpool humiliate old enemy

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 overcome biggest rivals to keep season alive

 

Just when they needed it most, Liverpool’s strikers came up with the goods, defeating Manchester United at Old Trafford 4-2 and putting the Reds right back in the hunt for a top four finish, which would qualify them for next season’s Champions League – with all that entails for finances, prestige and the ability to attract the best players – and salvaging a horrible season.

After 10 minutes and the concession of a goal that reeked of calamitous defending by at least four Liverpool defenders – Fabinho, Rhys Williams, Thiago Alcantara and, finally, Nat Phillips – that allowed Bruno Fernandes to get away a shot from the corner of the Liverpool area with the outside of his boot, which may or may not have been going in, that Alisson Becker may or may not have saved, variables that discombobulated Phillips who tried to block the effort but got his leg in the way of the ball’s flight too late and deflecting it into the corner of the net.

Liverpool struggled to react and it looked as if the disappointment of conceding such a sloppy goal might prompt them to drop their heads and allow Man Utd to score a second. However, a penalty given after Eric Bailly looked to have fouled Phillips, subsequently overturned by referee Anthony Taylor after advice from the VAR, seemed to galvanise Liverpool and in the next attack a scramble in the area allowed Diogo Jota to stab the ball home and equalise.

For the next half an hour of the game, Liverpool were excellent, cutting Manchester United apart, looking as if they could score at will. In first half injury time, Liverpool deservedly took the lead. A free kick on the right was brilliantly swung in from the right from man-of-the-match Trent Alexander Arnold, finding Roberto Firmino at the far post, who out-manoeuvred Paul Pogba, and powered a header into the back of the net for the Brazilian’s first ever goal at Old Trafford.

Liverpool scored a third two minutes into the second half after a strike from Alexander Arnold was spilled by Dean Henderson into the path of Firmino, who expertly finished for his second of the night.

For the next 20 minutes, Liverpool were rampart, creating chance after chance and it looked as if they could embarrass Man Utd, looking like a side who’d been forced to play three games in five days. Jota had the best chance for a fourth when he was put through after some fantastic one-touch passing from Salah and then Firmino and he should have beaten the onrushing Henderson but clipped the outside of the post instead.

Jota’s miss looked as if it might prove costly when, on 68 minutes, Marcus Rashford pulled a goal back for the home side, latching onto a through pass from Edinson Cavani and squeezing the ball passed Becker.

Liverpool’s season now hung in the balance. After going 3-1 up and looking in total control, they now came under sustained pressure from a rejuvenated Manchester United, aiming to deliver a humiliating blow to their biggest rival’s chances of rising up the league table. A goal-line clearance from Phillips followed by a sensational block from his centre-back partner Rhys Williams kept Liverpool’s lead in tact.

Then as Manchester United threw the kitchen sink at Liverpool, substitute Nemanja Matic contrived to lose the ball in the Liverpool half allowing Curtis Jones to put Mo Salah through to race from the halfway line into the United penalty area where he cooly slotted the ball passed Henderson to secure Liverpool’s deserved victory.

Qualifying for the Champions League is now in Liverpool’s hands. If they win their last remaining three games – against West Brom and Burnley away then home against Crystal Palace – then they will end up in third or fourth, which would be significant consolation and offer some hope for the future after what has been a traumatic season for the Reds.

Reds season in danger of unravelling as FA Cup journey ends early

Liverpool’s disastrous streak of form continued as they crashed out of the FA Cup in the fourth round to rivals Manchester United, losing 3-2 at Old Trafford.

Recent performances have been characterised by uninspired offensive play, but in this game the Reds’ woes were defensive as every time Manchester United came rushing forward with Rashford, Cavani and Greenwood a goal seemed imminent.

Paradoxically, it was Liverpool who went ahead after 18 minutes with a good chip over the goalkeeper finish from Mo Salah after a precise through ball from Roberto Firmino. The goal was a reminder of Liverpool at their best, not that Salah or Firmino’s overall performances suggested a return to past form.

Firmino struggled throughout with his touch, while Salah’s inability to hold on to the ball and his penchant for overplaying were again evident.

Indeed, 10 minutes after scoring it was sloppy attacking play from Salah that cost Liverpool possession and allowed Rashford to play a long ball over the retreating Milner’s head into the path of Greenwood to slot past Allison for Man Utd’s equaliser.

A mistake from the nervy Rhys Williams – in at centre back for Joel Matip – put Rashford in a one-on-one with the Reds’ stopper, a chance the United forward took to put the home team up 2-1 after 48 minutes.

Loose play from Cavani on halfway allowed Liverpool to respond on 58 minutes as Milner robbed the big Uruguayan, fed Firmino in the United box, raced in for the return, then dummied for the oncoming Salah to put the ball between the keeper Henderson’s legs and into the back of the net.

At this point, despite lacking their usual control and rhythm, it was Liverpool who were on the front foot and favourites to score the winner. This optimism dissipated, however, on the 78th minute, when the wily veteran Cavani won a dubious free kick against the overly eager Fabinho on the edge of the Liverpool box.

Bruno Fernandes stepped forward to rifle the ball into the corner of the net, beyond the left-hand of the diving Allison.

Liverpool’s goalkeeper – who gave away the penalty that allowed Burnley to end Liverpool’s four-year undefeated Anfield home record in the last Premier League game – gave a poor performance.

A case could be made that his positioning was awry for all three United goals. On all three occasions, he seemed to have allowed too much of his goal to be exposed and too much of a target for the shooter. Positioning is usually one of Allison’s strengths, but tonight he was out by inches and the outcome was a huge blow to Liverpool’s season, which could unravel further if they lose to Spurs on Thursday and fall even further behind in the race for the Premier League title.

Top of the table clash ends with Anfield stalemate

 

Another uninspiring home performance from the champions saw them come away with a 0-0 draw against Manchester United when a victory would have put them back on top of the table, dislodging one of their main rivals in the Premier League title chase.

Much ink has been spilled over Liverpool’s defensive woes this season, the loss of their three main centre-backs to injury – Joe Gomez and Virgil van Dijk are long-term absentees with knee issues, while Joel Matip, who has been out since 27 December with an abductor strain, is still a few days away from being available for selection; but the reality is that it’s Liverpool’s front three who have been struggling this season. The arrival of Diogo Jota and his sparkling form did seem to have injected the necessary competition for when Mo Salah, Sadio Mané or Roberto Firmino had an off-day, but his injury against Midtjylland on 9 December put a halt to this promising alternative and there's still no indication of when the Portuguese striker will return for the Reds.

The 7-0 thrashing of Crystal Palace on 19 December and Roberto Firmino’s apparent rediscovery of his form in that game has proved to be a false dawn. Since the dismantling of the Eagles, Liverpool have failed to win a Premier League game – drawing with WBA, Newcastle and Man Utd and losing to Southampton. In those four games, Liverpool have only managed to score one goal – Sadio Mané's effort against WBA, and it was Firmino today who fluffed Liverpool’s best chances, two weak strikes from inside the penalty area that an in-form No. 9 would surely have made count.

Xherdan Shaqiri returning to the midfield didn’t provide the creative impetus Liverpool have needed – Jordan Henderson played well as a makeshift centre-back but his dynamism in midfield, his ability to break up opposing play and get Liverpool on the front foot, is sorely missed – while Trent Alexander Arnold continued his disappointing run of form, with some wayward passes and poor deliveries into the box. Indeed, as the game went on, Liverpool found themselves increasingly at risk of losing and had the ever-dependable Allison Becker to thank for the point after two exceptional late saves from Bruno Fernandez and Paul Pogba.

Reds defeat Man Utd and take huge step towards title

Lallana strike keeps Reds' unbeaten run going

By any objective measure, this had felt like an away banker during what was a high-octane build-up. Manchester United, mired in their worst start to a season since 1989-90, had been goal-shy; their confidence seemingly in pieces. Liverpool were supposed to roll up to Old Trafford and extend their 100 per cent Premier League to a record-equalling 18th game.

Ole Gunnar Solskjær, the eternally optimistic United manager, had claimed that “this is the perfect game for us‚“ but, to put it bluntly, nobody believed him. Perhaps they should have done.

It was a wild turn-around from a United point-of-view, a thumbing of the form-book and it said everything that Solskjær’s team, having taken a first-half lead through Marcus Rashford, could finish a little disappointed at having failed to inflict upon Liverpool a first league defeat since January.

Read more here.

Reds earn point against Man Utd, go top, but fail to impress

If Liverpool wished to signal serious intent of ending their 29-year wait to be champions of England, they failed. This game in hand over Manchester City featured an under-par performance that will hearten Pep Guardiola’s men, though the point does leave the Merseyside club leaders by a point with 11 matches left.

The draw suits Manchester United far better and given how Ole Gunnar Solskjær’s XI were hindered by three injury-enforced substitutions, all before the interval, the result is a particular morale-booster.

The Norwegian may have overhyped United’s second-half display as “magnificent” but they certainly outplayed Liverpool then and though Jürgen Klopp played down his disappointment, he will be concerned that his team failed to fire.

Read more here.

Fabinho says he's found his rhythm at Liverpool

Fabinho claims he has finally found his rhythm at Liverpool after a lacklustre start.

The Brazilian midfielder joined Jurgen Klopp’s side from Monaco in the summer for £43.7m but didn’t make an appearance in the Premier League until the club’s ninth game of the season. 

However, since making his league debut in a brief cameo against Huddersfield, Fabinho has started six of Liverpool’s last eight league games, usurping Naby Keita and culminating in a standout performance against Manchester United on Sunday. 

“The intensity is different from what I am used to [but] I’ve got into the rhythm of the team and got used to the style of play.”

Read more here.

Shaqiri double sees off Man United

There was nothing lucky about this win for Liverpool. Jose Mourinho had made his jibe; Jurgen Klopp took the points with Liverpool returning to the top of the Premier League table through two second-half goals from Anfield’s new super-sub: Xherdan Shaqiri.

It also means United are 19 points – that is NINETEEN – ahead of sixth place United who, surely, have little hope now of even finishing in the top four. It is that much of an embarrassing shambles for them.

Is Mourinho also finished? His team worked but this felt like damage-limitation, about holding on in there and trying to claim a draw rather than even attempting to go toe-for-toe in a game they surely could not afford to lose. In the end they were simply overwhelmed by far, far superior opposition.

Read more here.