Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool produced their best football of the season as they blew old rivals Manchester United away in some style.
Two goals apiece from the new look frontline of Cody Gakpo, Darwin Núñez, Mohamed Salah and a cameo appearance goal from club legend Bobby Firmino gave them their biggest win in this fixture since a 7-1 win in 1895.
And for United, it marks their heaviest league defeat since December 1931 when they lost by the same scoreline to Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Going into the match it was Erik ten Hag’s team that were the form team of the Premier League, having won the Carabao Cup just the Sunday before.
But the form book went out the window as Liverpool gave them a thrashing to inject new life into their season.
They now stand just three points off fourth place Tottenham, with a game in hand as they supremely boosted their hopes of Champions League qualification for next season.
United’s missed opportunities
The visitors to their credit had the best of the early chances, as winger Anthony bent a nice effort from the edge of the penalty area, but Alisson was alert at his far post to palm away the danger.
A golden opportunity fell the way of captain Bruno Fernandes but he headed wide from Diogo Dalot’s cross, with the bottom corner of the goal gaping.
Then a third came, as Luke Shaw passed forward for Marcus Rashford who could only shoot straight at Alisson.
Gakpo breaks the deadlock
Formerly a transfer target of fellow Dutchman ten Hag, Gakpo showed United exactly what they are missing with a fine goal.
In the 43rd minute, Liverpool capitalised on United’s lack of prolificacy at front of goal, as Andy Robertson broke at pace, before slotting the ball forward to Gakpo, who turned the experienced Raphaël Varane inside out, before cooly curling into the bottom corner.
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A stunning finish.
1-0 Liverpool and Anfield erupted just before half-time.
It was the perfect tonic for Klopp’s men as the goal turned the match on its head and gave them all the momentum going into the second 45 minutes.
Núñez and Salah strike
Just three minutes into the second-half, Liverpool doubled their advantage as Harvey Elliott and Fabinho capitalised on some sloppy United defending from Shaw and Casemiro.
Salah attempted to cross from the right but Shaw blocked the ball, only for Elliott to nicely set the ball into the danger area, and Núñez headed home from three yards out.
This sparked wild celebrations from the Uruguayan and his teammates.
And they didn’t have to wait long for a third, Fernandes wasteful in possession gave the ball straight to captain Jordan Henderson who began a fine counter punch.
He sent the ball to Gakpo, who passed to Salah, and the deadly Dutchman received the ball back from the dribbling Egyptian and finished with aplomb as he dinked the ball into the corner of the United net.
It was a fine finish from an acute angle, and surely game over for Manchester United.
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At £45 million, he is looking worth every penny with four goals in the space of a month for his new side.
There was a little bit of drama though at the Liverpool end, as Alisson nearly made a howler for Fernandes to score, but Henderson saved his bacon, much to the annoyance of the Portuguese, who had a torrid afternoon as an uninspired United captain.
Klopp’s destroyers soon got their fourth, as Salah got in on the act.
Henderson again the architect of a counter attack, as he dispossessed a poorly performing Anthony, setting Núñez away, who set up Salah, and the Egyptian King slammed home a first-time volley for 4-0 as the ball crashed against the back of the United net.
Liverpool and the Kop all smiles as a dream scoreline was now on the cards.
Salah and Firmino delight
There was a brief but rare United attack, as Rashford rounded Alisson but could only hit the base of the post, as it summed up his side’s underwhelming performance.
And soon it was five, as Henderson whipped an inviting cross into the middle of the penalty box, and Núñez flicked a fine header into the corner of the net, to cue more celebrations.
Four in his last four for the £86 million hitman.
Salah then doubled his tally, just like his fellow strike partners as he tapped home from close range to net a record 129th league goal for the club, breaking Robbie Fowler’s record.
In the process, it was the Liverpool legend’s 12th goal against United, scoring in each of the last six encounters, a team he clearly loves playing against.
And finally, it was Seventh Heaven for Liverpool as Salah played in his old time partner in crime, Firmino, who turned, found his feet and finished expertly.
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The icing on the cake, as Liverpool sucked their old rivals of all their confidence and took it all for themselves with a sublime attacking display.
Eight shots, seven on target and seven goals.
Simply wonderful as Liverpool fans celebrated with delight.
Klopp – ‘Best performance for a long time’
After the match, the boss beamed with happiness at how his side performed.
“It was one of the best performances for a long, long time.
“In a way I think everybody saw how good the boys can be,” said the German.
“I don’t think the second half could start better with the two goals we forced there pretty much and from that moment on the boys were flying.
“The three points are even more important. We have to keep going and that’s what we will do.”
Gakpo, Salah and Henderson react
After scoring twice for the first time in this fixture, Gakpo appeared over the moon with the result.
“Everyone told me it’s a big game for the club and the fans.
“We were extra-motivated and to put in a performance like this, it’s amazing.”
The record goal scorer Salah also seemed ecstatic.
“It’s very special, I can’t lie.
“This record was in my mind since I came here. I think after my first season I was always chasing that record,” he said.
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“To beat it today against United with that result is unbelievable. I’m going home to celebrate with the family, have a camomile tea and sleep.”
The skipper also heaped praise on his teammate.
“I’m really happy for Mo because it’s not a coincidence that he gets these numbers.
“He dedicates his life to football every single day, how hard he works, he’s the first one in and last one out.
“It’s not a coincidence so I’m delighted for him.”
