Liverpool maintained their perfect start to the 2024-25 Premier League season after another masterclass performance from Mohamed Salah led the Reds to a 3-0 victory over Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Since that 7-0 shellacking at Anfield in March 2023, Man United had avoided defeat in their last three competitive encounters with Liverpool, drawing both league games last season before their incredible 4-3 FA Cup quarter-final victory over the Reds.
Liverpool thought they had taken the lead with their first real foray into their opponents' box with Ryan Gravenberch cutting a dangerous ball back from the byline into the path of Trent Alexander-Arnold, who fired a powerful shot over the line only for the goal to be ruled out for an offside on Salah in the build-up.
However, Arne Slot's side began to dictate the game after that early disappointment and got their reward in the 35th minute when a loose pass from Casemiro allowed Gravenberch to set Salah on his way, and the Egyptian found Luis Diaz on the far post for a simple headed finish.
Casemiro's afternoon got worse before the interval as another error saw Diaz win back possession and play a neat one-two with Salah before unleashing a low right-footed shot past Andre Onana and into the back of the net.
The gulf in class between the sides in the first half was evident, and while United had the lion's share of possession, they never really looked likely to trouble Alisson in the Liverpool goal.
Liverpool picked up where they left off in the second period and put the game to bed in the 56th minute, when Dominik Szoboszlai fed none other than Salah, who made no mistake with his first-time shot beyond a despairing Onana.
United barely had a sniff in the second half and the Reds saw out the match with ease to go second in the Premier League standings after three matches, while the Red Devils are now down to 14th place with three points in as many games.
MAN UTD VS. LIVERPOOL HIGHLIGHTS
Alexander-Arnold disallowed goal vs. Man Utd (7th min, Man Utd 0-0 Liverpool)
NO GOAL! ❌
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 1, 2024
Trent Alexander-Arnold thinks he's scored and celebrates with a Steven Gerrard camera kiss but it's ruled out for offside! 🎥 pic.twitter.com/c2ifHlkz5h
Reds' celebrations cut short after VAR chalked off the goal for offside on Salah who attempted to play the cut-back from beyond the last defender in the build-up.
Luis Diaz goal vs. Man Utd (35th min, Man Utd 0-1 Liverpool)
LUIS DIAZ AT THE FAR POST!
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 1, 2024
Liverpool take the lead against Manchester United 🔴 pic.twitter.com/LcsdCkgqsU
Mohamed Salah kept up his incredible record of goal contributions against the Red Devils, setting up Diaz with an inch-perfect cross for an easy finish to take the lead at Old Trafford.
Luis Diaz goal vs. Man Utd (42th min, Man Utd 0-2 Liverpool)
"Two Casemiro mistakes, two Diaz goals" 😬
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 1, 2024
What a finish this is 👌 pic.twitter.com/lNaWEnBXUs
Another error by Casemiro led to Salah and Diaz combining again, with the Egyptian setting up the Colombian for Liverpool's second goal of the afternoon, putting the Reds in a commanding position heading into the half-time break.
Two assists for the Egyptian, two goals for the Colombian!
Mohamed Salah goal vs. Man Utd (56th min, Man Utd 0-3 Liverpool)
Mo Salah LOVES scoring against Manchester United 🏹 pic.twitter.com/GGX3tg4hAY
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) September 1, 2024
Salah - who else? - puts the match to bed before the hour-mark with a third goal for the Reds and his 10th in nine appearances at Old Trafford across all competitions.
MAN OF THE MATCH - MOHAMED SALAH (LIVERPOOL)
© Imago
Not much to discuss here. While Diaz was a worthy candidate, he was hooked shortly after the hour-mark, while the Reds' number 11 continued to extend his incredible record against United and looked menacing every time he touched the ball in and around the opponents' box.
Two assists, one goal. Job done for the Egyptian King!
MAN UTD VS. LIVERPOOL MATCH STATS
Possession: Man Utd 53%-47% Liverpool
Shots: Man Utd 8-11 Liverpool
Shots on target: Man Utd 3-3 Liverpool
Corners: Man Utd 5-2 Liverpool
Fouls: Man Utd 7-7 Liverpool
BEST STATS
10 - Mo Salah has scored 10 goals in nine appearances at Old Trafford for Liverpool in all competitions. He is only the second player to score 10+ goals at a single away ground for Premier League clubs since 1992-93, after Alan Shearer (10 at Elland Road). Thanos. pic.twitter.com/y7ZAMVTANr
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 1, 2024
2007 - Liverpool's Arne Slot is the first manager to win each of his first three Premier League games without conceding a single goal since Sven-Göran Eriksson in 2007. Tribute. pic.twitter.com/dvHFSqRKSa
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) September 1, 2024
WHAT NEXT?
After the international break, Liverpool will continue their quest to maintain their winning record when they welcome Nuno Espirito Santo's Nottingham Forest to Anfield.
Manchester United, meanwhile, will look to return to winning ways against newly promoted Southampton at St Mary's Stadium on September 14.
Devesh Jaganath
