LIVERPOOL 7, MAN UTD 0
Manchester United’s 11-match unbeaten run came to a spectacular end as they suffered a record loss to Liverpool.
Not since 1895, when United lost 7-1 at Anfield in a second tier match, have they been beaten so heavily by their rivals.
There were two goals apiece for Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah and one for substitute Roberto Firmino as United were simply blown away.
There was an ominous pre-match stat which showed that in the four times Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Harvey Elliott had started together in midfield, Liverpool had won all four scoring 21 goals and conceding two.
After today, make it five with a goal difference of 28-2 as they again proved an unbeatable combination.
It was a special day for Salah as his brace as he equalled and then beat Robbie Fowler’s club record of 128 Premier League goals.
Yet, until Gakpo broke the deadlock two minutes before the break with their first goal attempt on target, United had carved out the better chances and ought to have been ahead.
After Liverpool scored a second immediately after the restart, there was a capitulation from the Erik ten Hag’s side.
United remain third but Liverpool, with four wins and a draw from their last five league games, are up to fifth and only three points behind Tottenham, who are fourth, with a game in hand.
After a terrible season by their high standards of recent years, Liverpool’s second-half showing was as good as any in recent seasons which have yielded so much silverware.
Embed from Getty ImagesLiverpool manager Jurgen Klopp said: “It was our best performance for a long time, a freak result and a top performance.
“It was a super performance and an important three points. We have to make these performances count.”
Liverpool captain Henderson said: “It’s a fantastic day for everyone. The performance levels, every player was top quality. You could see the energy levels were back.
“We have shown recently we are on the path back. It’s a big win but we need to concentrate on the next game. I’m really happy for Mo [Salah]. He dedicates his life to football. He is the first one in and the first one out.”
Salah added: “It is very special to win a game like that. We need to stay humble and win our games. Hopefully it will give us a big push.”
And of his record, Salah said: “It’s very special. I cannot lie. To get it today against Manchester United is unbelievable.”
Ten Hag admitted the loss was a reality check, saying: “I think we played a decent first half. One mistake in organisation just before half-time. Second half it was just not us. It was not our standards. We didn’t play as a team. It was unprofessional. Yes [I am angry]. Definitely.
“I am surprised because I have seen the last weeks and months this team is resilient and has a winning attitude. Second half we didn’t have a winning attitude at all. We didn’t stick to the plan, and we didn’t do our jobs.
“We didn’t track back, and it was really unprofessional. We have seen in the past we can bounce back. After Brentford, after Manchester City. This is definitely a strong setback and is unacceptable. I’m really disappointed and angry about it.
“It is a reality check. We have to take this strong.”
United, who last played in the Premier League on February 19, made six changes from the side that defeated West Ham in the FA Cup in midweek.
Lisandro Martínez, Marcus Rashford, Fred, Casemiro, Raphaël Varane and Luke Shaw all came back in as the Reds reverted to the side that started the final of the Carabao Cup.
Liverpool made three changes from the side that beat Wolves last time out.
Henderson, Gakpo and Andrew Robertson all came in. Firmino, who is leaving the Reds in the summer, was named on the bench.
Liverpool made a bright start but it was United who carved out the first clear-cut chance in the 10th minute as Antony cut inside and saw his shot pushed around the post by Alisson for a corner.
And United went close again in the 26th minute when Bruno Fernandes’ diving header from Diogo Dalot’s cross flashed past the upright.
A chance also fell to Rashford but too quickly as he hurriedly shot weakly at Alisson following Luke Shaw’s pass.
United had the ball in the net three minutes before the break when Casemiro strayed offside before heading home Rashford’s free kick.
Liverpool went straight up the other end to make the breakthrough as Gakpo found the net.
A quick throw by Alisson released Andrew Robertson who fed Gakpo who cut in from the left before firing how to the left of David De Gea.
And it got worse for United who conceded a second goal within two minutes of the restart.
Harvey Elliott, Fabinho and Mohamed Salah were involved in the build up before Elliott, with his second, crossed for Nunez to head home from six yards.
United’s day became a whole lot worse when Liverpool made it 3-0 in the 51st minute following a rapid counterattack after an United attacking move broke down.
Salah crossed from the right and Gakpo, at the near post, steered a shot into the far corner for his fourth goal for the club.
Robertson and Ibrahima Konate had clear-cut openings to increase the lead as United were shellshocked.
Ten Hag’s response just short of the hour was to withdraw Wout Weghorst and Fred as Alejandro Garnacho and Scott McTominay looked to steady the ship.
The changes failed to arrest the slide as United conceded a fourth goal in the 67th minute.
Nunez played a pivotal role as he set up Salah who from 18 yards fired an unstoppable shot into the roof of the net.
United fans were already streaming out of Anfield by the time Liverpool hit a fifth with 12 minutes left as Nunez glanced home a header from Henderson’s cross, his 14th of the season.
Ten Hag made two further changes as Martinez and the out-of-sorts Casemiro were replaced by Tyrell Malacia and Marcel Sabitzer.
Liverpool added a sixth in the 83rd minute as Salah scored his second to become the club’s record scorer in the Premier League.
Firmino provided the assist before Salah fired home from close range and whipped off his shirt to celebrate his record-breaking achievement. There was an anxious wait for a VAR check for a possible offside before his 22nd goal of the season.
The rout was completed when Firmino fired home a seventh goal in the 89th minute after being set up by Salah with the shot going through the legs of De Gea for his 10th of the season.