Manchester United 0, Liverpool 3
Luis Diaz scored twice while Mo Salah scored at Old Trafford for the seventh game in a row as Liverpool thrashed Manchester United.
The visitors took full advantage of advantage of fatal errors in midfield – specifically by Casemiro and Kobbie Mainoo – and some seriously under par performances in a side showing three changes since the late defeat at Brighton.
And it wasn’t like United weren’t warned, as Liverpool had an early goal ruled out for offside which also exploited their lack of a specialist left back and they scored each of their 3 shots on target.
On this showing new signing Manuel Ugarte – a defensive midfielder – should be rushed into the side after the international break for United’s trip to Southampton.
Embed from Getty ImagesLiverpool thought they had taken the lead after just 6 minutes of this match that they battled hard to take control of.
Luis Dias was given plenty of space to cross, he found Trent Alexander-Arnold whose fierce effort was cleared by Diogo Dalot but from behind the goal line.
United’s blushes were spared when a VAR check confirmed that Mo Salah had touched the ball in an offside position as it went across the six yard box.
After that lucky escape United tightened up and kept the visitors at bay until 10 minutes before half time when the United midfield could no longer cope with Liverpool passing around them and stealing the ball off them.
Twice Casemiro gave up the ball and twice they were punished by Luis Dias as Liverpool exploited the hole at left back for United with Mo Salah providing the ammunition for deadly response to mistakes by the Reds.
Toby Collyer was handed his Old Trafford debut for United at half time, as Casemiro was put out of his misery by Erik Ten Hag.
Nossair Mazraoui needed lengthy treatment after a clash with Diogo Jota shortly after the restart.
Salah scored Liverpool’s third after Mainoo lost the ball in midfield and could have had the fourth but for a block on his goal bound shot soon afterwards.
Harry Maguire and Amad Diallo were brought on to replace De Ligt and Alejandro Garnacho – the latter’s removal was booed by the discontent Old Trafford crowd.
With the game easily won Liverpool took their collective foot off the gas and United still couldn’t put a glove on them even after the introduction of Amad Diallo for Alejandro Garnacho.
And the humiliation was complete when travelling fans sang Ten Hag’s at the Wheel – a cruel take on the song that was sung by away fans towards the end of Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s tenure.
PLAYER RATINGS – Manchester United 0, Liverpool 3
Andre Onana: 6. Not a great afternoon. Could do nothing about the offside goal and was left exposed for Luis Diaz opener.
Noussair Mazraoui: 5. Torrid time against Luis Diaz but gave United options when he pushed up. His shot was superbly saved by Alisson.
Matthijs De Ligt: 5. Good interceptions and blocked – from Trent Alexander-Arnold – but bypassed by Mo Salah’s cross into the area for the first Liverpool goal. Lost his head in the second half and flew into Luis Diaz but escaped a red card.
Lisandro Martinez: 5. Good build up from the back but under pressure by a lack of midfield shield. Extravagant overhead kick went wide in the second half.
Diogo Dalot: 4. Behind the play as Trent Alexander-Arnold struck an offside goal early on and unable to prevent Mo Salah from putting in the cross for the first goal.
Casemiro: 3. Lucky to get away with following though on Alexis Mac Allister in midfield challenge. Time seems to be catching up with the midfielder who lost the ball twice for Liverpool’s two Luis Diaz goals and could not keep up with play.
Kobbie Mainoo: 4. Lot of space to cover in midfield with Casemiro ambling around and he had a tough time up against Ryan Gravenberch, giving away fouls and getting booked as the Liverpool man ran rings around him. But for Liverpool’s third goal he lost the ball to Alexis Mac Allister.
Alejandro Garnacho: 5. Stationed on the right flank but not enough service on his side and when he was released Joshua Zirkzee was not up with the action so he had nothing to aim for. Sacrificed for Amad in the second half – a decision that Old Trafford fans disagreed with as they booed Erik Ten Hag.
Bruno Fernandes: 5. All action midfielder again but his incisive passing wasn’t on point today as Liverpool mostly cut them out and his shooting was nothing write home about.
Marcus Rashford: 4. Not much impact from the left. His crosses from the left in the second half deserved a better finish.
Joshua Zirkzee: 4. Poor start. Failed to control ball right in front of goal and lost the ball in midfield (where he spent a bit too much time – missing out on some decent United moves) which allowed Liverpool to counter attack. Cowed by Virgil Van Dijk. Had second half shot tipped away by Alisson while a free header went straight to Alisson midway through the second half and should have done better with a late chance created by Marcus Rashford.
Toby Collyer (on for Casemiro, 46): 5. Big game to make his Old Trafford bow for the youngster. Set up a shot for Joshua Zirkzee but United’s entire midfield setup didn’t help him.
Harry Maguire (on for Matthijs De Ligt, 69): 6. Defensive swap. Kept the scoreline down and robbed Darwin Nunez late on to prevent a final Liverpool attack
Amad Diallo (on for Alejandro Garnacho. 69): 6. Added a bit of excitement down the right. Should have been on from the start but the Old Trafford fans didn’t like the removal of Garnacho while keeping the equally ineffective Marcus Rashford on.
Christian Eriksen (on for Joshua Zirkzee, 86): No time to mark
TEAM NEWS – Manchester United 0, Liverpool 3
Mason Mount’s injury ruled him out of the game but Erik Ten Hag also made additional changes to the Reds after bringing in Joshua Zirkzee in to replace him.
Matthijs de Ligt came in for his full debut for Harry Maguire while Alejandro Garnacho replaced in-form Amad Diallo.
Deadline day signing Manuel Ugarte was not signed in time to feature in the match squad today but was presented to Old Trafford prior to kick off.
GOALS – Manchester United 0, Liverpool 3
Man Utd 0, Liverpool 1: 35. Luis Dias unmarked at the back post headed Liverpool into the lead after meeting a cross by Mo Salah when Casemiro’s casual pass in midfield was intercepted by Ryan Gravenberch who was allowed to drive deep into the United defence.
Man Utd 0, Liverpool 2: 42. Luis Diaz robbed Casemiro and swept home Liverpool’s second after exchanging passes with Mo Salah
Man Utd 0, Liverpool 3: 56. Mo Salah smashed Liverpool’s third after Alexis Mac Allister robbed Kobbie Mainoo and slid the ball up to Dominic Szoboszlai who squared it for Salah to finish.
MATCH STATS – Manchester United 0, Liverpool 3
Man Utd: Onana, Mazraoui, De Ligt (Maguire 69), Lisandro Martinez, Dalot, Casemiro (Collyer 46), Mainoo, Garnacho (Amad 69), Fernandes (C), Rashford, Zirkzee (Eriksen 86)
Man Utd Subs not used: Bayindir, Heaton, Antony, Evans, Wheatley
Bookings: Zirkzee 23 (shirt pull against Mo Salah); Lisandro Martinez 40 (foul on Dominic Szoboszlai); Mainoo (foul on Ryan Gravenberch) 45+1; De Ligt 64 (rash foul on Luis Diaz)
Liverpool: Alisson, Alexander-Arnold (Bradley 75), Konate, Van Dijk (C), Robertson (Tsimikas 83), Mac Allister, Gravenberch, Szoboszlai, Salah, Diaz (Gakpo 65), Jota (Nunez 75)
Liverpool Subs not used: Kelleher, Gomez, Endo, Elliott, Quansah
Bookings: Van Dijk 55 (foul on Bruno Fernandes)
Goals: Diaz 35, 42; Salah 56
Referee: Anthony Taylor
Attendance: 73,638