Liverpool 7-0 Manchester United: Salah breaks record sensational defeat
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Liverpool celebrated their sixth goal of the game
Mohamed Salah became Liverpool’s top scorer in the Premier League as they opened up Manchester United’s chances of joining the title race with a humiliating and historic 7-0 defeat at Anfield.
The future of the Reds’ forward line was paved the way as Darwin Nunez and Cody Gakpo scored twice to crush their arch–rivals in the biggest win in 211 games history.
Three of their goals came within seven minutes either side of the first half which left the visitors, who have not won at this stadium since Jurgen Klopp’s first meeting with them in January 2016, reeling.
Potential final standout of Liverpool’s illustrious front three Salah then provided a timely reminder of the standards the pair must meet with two goals of his own – either side of Nunez’s header – to pass Robbie Fowler as the club’s top scorer in the Premier League by a objective. the 128th and 129th.
Substitute Roberto Firmino, who on Friday told the club he would not be seeking a contract extension and would end his eight-year stay in the summer, put in the finishing touches with his seventh.
Last season Liverpool won 5-0 at Old Trafford and 4-0 at home but it is a team in contention for an unprecedented quadruple.
This version has struggled for most of the season but seems to be gathering some ominous momentum at the right time.
Even overturning a 5-2 Champions League first-leg deficit to Real Madrid next week now seems a no-brainer.
Erik ten Hag’s side have lost just three of their last 22 league games and their 23 points tally since the World Cup restart was the most of any team, but in the end, with ‘Ole’ chants rolling from the Kop, former United defender Gary Neville said they played like schoolboys.
They had arrived to push their way to a top tally but defeat left them nine points behind second-placed Manchester City and 14 adrift of leaders Arsenal and even with one game to go talk of a title bid now looks fantastic.
Liverpool, however, moved up 13 points from the top 15 and a fifth successive clean sheet saw them beat fourth-placed Tottenham, trailing only three points with a game in hand and Spurs still visiting Anfield.
In an almost symbolic passing of the baton, Gakpo, now occupying a deeper attacking role like Firmino but with a more potential goal threat, capitalized on his chance with the crucial opener. And how brilliant it is.
Just two minutes before the break, Andy Robertson’s through ball inside Fred allowed the Netherlands international to cut inside Raphael Varane and cut in with his right foot past David De Gea.
It was Liverpool’s first shot on target but it would not be their last as two minutes after the interval 19-year-old Harvey Elliott initiated the move that led to his assist for the second goal.
After intercepting a long ball in United territory, the ball passed to Fabinho who nudged the back four to Salah and while his cross was blocked by Luke Shaw, Elliott reacted quickest to cross for Nunez to head in from close range.
Three minutes later the game ended as a contest when Jordan Henderson received Bruno Fernandes’ poor cross that didn’t work, Gakpo then picked up the ball outside his own penalty area and fired in Salah.
The Egypt international teased Lisandro Martinez, finally putting the World Cup winner on the pitch, as he played in a rushing Gakpo to pin down De Gea.
Goalkeeper Alisson Becker’s mistake briefly gave Fernandes hope of a quick reply, but the ball was scrambled clearly and when Nunez made the breakthrough four against three it was likely only one result.
The Uruguay international’s first pass was blocked by Scott McTominay but he picked out Salah on the rebound, was deflected in by the United midfielder, and he hit the underside of the bar with his weaker right foot.
He was the first Liverpool player to score in six successive appearances in all competitions against Manchester United but he was not finished there and with the visiting crowd headed out with a header back.