After the restart of the second half was strangely delayed while referee Martin Atkinson had readjusted his microphone, the Manchester United players tried to stay on their feet by passing the ball. The bunch replied with olés. It was a typically sarcastic judgment, but one that felt perfectly appropriate.
To borrow another line from Liverpool’s support, their opponents barely touched the ball during another striking defeat. After the 5-0 shooting at Old Trafford in October, this was another occasion that showed that Liverpool is on a completely different level.
United were defeated, especially in the first half, their defeat was inevitable from the moment Luis Diaz gave Liverpool the lead in the beginning and they were on their knees when Mohamed Salah rushed to the pass of reserve Diogo Jota and won the fourth in recent minutes.
Inspired by Thiago Alcantara, who seems to have played his own game for long periods, Liverpool got the result they needed to send them to the top of the Premier League table, at least while Manchester City play Brighton at home on Wednesday night. Remy would take them there, but the victory was never in doubt, United’s support came, fearing the worst, and he saw that it was all over.
Salah scored the second – his first goal in an open game in 12 games – with Sadio Mane adding the third, and Liverpool may reject another in their quest for the perfect final, which they hope will push City to fail.
There are already 11 consecutive victories in the league for Liverpool at Anfield, but perhaps the most significant statistic is that which shows that they lost only one result, which is really important since January 2 – a 2-2 draw in City last Sunday. The talk about the four will not stop – not with them in such a rare form, everything is collected for Jurgen Klopp and his players.
Luis Diaz passes by David de Gea to find the result for Liverpool. Photo: John Powell / Liverpool / Getty Images
These are gloomy days for United, the air is full of anger and protest; traveling supporters once again chanted for the removal of the Glaser family.
They even targeted some of the players, with Harry Maguire and Paul Pogba being barracked recently. Pogba was lame after 10 minutes here and it was easy to think that even so early, he concluded that he was better off the field.
United have almost forgotten what it’s like to win convincingly or to have a consistent and consistent plan. Ralph Rangnik started with a back-up triple featuring the under-spotted Phil Jones before hooking him up at halftime and moving to 4-3-3. Neither approach worked. The club’s four biggest hopes are a mirage.
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Liverpool started with goalkeeper Alison, who made a Cruyff-style move on Bruno Fernandes, emphasizing the confidence in their veins, and the breakthrough goal demonstrated their well-established understanding and the inability of United to defend with all physical force. The visiting side could not put a glove on the red shirts as they aimed the ball from behind, Mane eventually released Salah and his cross was made to measure for Diaz.
It was a wonderful moment in the seven minutes when Liverpool supporters joined their United counterparts in applauding Cristiano Ronaldo, who was on compassionate leave after the death of his baby at birth.
Back in action, Liverpool shouted the tune for the rest of the first half, extremely restless from behind, pressing brilliantly, dominating the ball. United are chasing the shadows and it was remarkable to see Liverpool find gaps between the lines and outside, especially on the right through Salah and Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Mohamed Salah defeated De Gea for the fourth goal. Photo: Phil Noble / Reuters
The second goal came when Joel Matip stepped forward, returned the ball from Diaz and passed it to Manet. Salah was already running away from Diogo Dalot, the makeshift left-back, and Manet turned to find him. It was a brilliant assist. Salah touched him before returning.
United were mistaken for treating the ball like hot coals, and in both cases before the time they thought they had knocked Marcus Rashford out with high balls over the top, the striker’s touch left him. Rashford struggled, his confidence seeming in tatters.
Rangnik was lucky that the damage at halftime was no more severe; Liverpool certainly had a chance. Things got a little better for him in the first 20 minutes of the second half, even if Tiago continued to dazzle, pinging his passes, gliding over the grass.
Rashford, marked offside but clearly included for VAR purposes, hit one against Alison.
But then United played Anthony Elanga in trouble, Andy Robertson dealt with him and fed Diaz, whose dismissal shattered Manet.
Liverpool’s fourth also followed a turnaround for United, this time by reserve Hannibal Maybri. For United, the only mercy was a full-time whistle.
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