Liverpool have moved two points clear at the top of the Premier League table courtesy of a dominant 4-0 victory over fierce rivals Manchester United at Anfield this evening.
Jurgen Klopp's quadruple-chasing side threatened to blow Ralf Rangnick's top-four hopefuls away in the first half, racing into a two-goal lead through goals from Luis Diaz and Mohamed Salah and looking capable of scoring plenty more.
The visitors improved significantly at the start of the second half, but a pinpoint finish from Sadio Mane extinguished any hopes of a memorable comeback before Salah completed the rout late on.
Man United endured a torrid opening quarter to the match, with Diaz confidently finishing off a sweeping counter-attack before Paul Pogba limped off with an injury all inside the opening 10 minutes.
Salah then scored from open play in the Premier League for the first time since February, capping off a stunning team move which saw 10 different Liverpool players touch the ball and a string of one-touch passes.
A degree of complacency appeared to creep into Liverpool's play at the start of the second half and they needed Alisson Becker to come to their rescue with a double-save to deny gilt-edged chances for Marcus Rashford and Anthony Elanga.
However, Mane killed off United's chances with an accurate first-time finish from Diaz's pass before Salah helped himself to his second of the night and 30th of the season as Liverpool moved above title rivals Manchester City and to the top of the Premier League table for 24 hours at least.
The Reds will now turn their attention to Man City's meeting with Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday night, before returning to action themselves against Everton in the Merseyside derby on Sunday.
Man United, meanwhile, must regroup in time for this weekend's game against fellow top-four hopefuls Arsenal.
HIGHLIGHTS
5th min: Liverpool break the deadlock with the first real attack of the match, slicing through the Man United defence down the right. Mohamed Salah races on to a through-ball before playing it across for Luis Diaz, who is left with a simple finish from close range.
GOAL!! WHAT A START FOR LIVERPOOL! 🔴
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 19, 2022
Luis Díaz finishes off a fine move which cuts #MUFC apart! ⚽ #LIVMUN pic.twitter.com/Jzi3wEAu1a
7th min: Rivalries are put aside as Anfield rises as one to applaud the absent Cristiano Ronaldo following the tragic death of his newborn son.
12th min: Man United only half-clear a corner which Thiago Alcantara then clips back into the box, but it is just too high for Diaz, who can only loop his header onto the roof of the net.
22nd min: Liverpool make it 2-0 with a devastating one-touch team move which ends with Sadio Mane clipping a fine pass round the corner for Salah, who strokes home his finish with only David de Gea to beat.
GOAL!! Mo Salah scores!! ✅🔴#LFC cut #MUFC open again and now lead 2-0 at Anfield! #LIVMUN pic.twitter.com/UI8PNr0v6O
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 19, 2022
44th min: Diaz collects the ball and turns in acres of space before trying his luck from range, but his effort is straight at De Gea.
55th min: Man United finally register their first shot of the game as the ball drops to Jadon Sancho, although his tame effort is easily scooped up by Alisson Becker.
64th min: The visitors have their best move of the game so far to slice through Liverpool's defence and create two one-on-ones, but Alisson denies them on both occasions. First Marcus Rashford is thwarted before the Liverpool keeper also saves the rebound from Anthony Elanga and, while the flag goes up, the replay shows that any goal would have counted.
68th min: Liverpool grab their third as Andrew Robertson bursts forward before giving the ball to Diaz, who picks out Mane in the middle. The Senegalese striker still has plenty to do, but his first-time finish is unerring into the bottom corner.
GOAL!! Sadio Mane makes it 3-0! ⚽
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 19, 2022
After a slow start to the second-half #LFC hit #MUFC on the counter and now all of Jurgen Klopp's front three are on the scoresheet! 🔥 #LIVMUN pic.twitter.com/3WMTcrvKqI
85th min: Salah caps off the scoring, racing on to a through-ball from Diogo Jota before clipping a deft finish over De Gea, with a little help from a deflection off Aaron Wan-Bissaka.
GOAL!! Salah SCORES again and makes it 4-0! 🔴⚽
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 19, 2022
Mo Salah has ENDED his goal drought in style tonight! 💫 #LIVMUN pic.twitter.com/4X61fTNWCc
MAN OF THE MATCH - THIAGO ALCANTARA
© Reuters
There were no shortage of worthy candidates for this award - unsurprisingly all in the red of Liverpool - and Salah can feel more aggrieved than anyone else at not getting the nod having scored twice and registered a fine assist too.
Mane and Diaz also grabbed a goal and an assist apiece, but Thiago was the main architect of this rout, running the show in midfield and toying with Man United at times.
It looked like a teacher playing with kids in the playground on a few occasions as Thiago brought out all of the tricks, running rings around the Man United midfield throughout his time on the pitch.
You could not begrudge Salah getting this award, but Thiago's performance simply needed to be recognised despite not ending up with an assist or goal to his name - something Anfield did when they gave him a standing ovation as he came off 10 minutes from time.
STANDOUT MOMENT
7-minutes in, Liverpool and Man United fans show their support for Cristiano Ronaldo and his family. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/5TCxj5oxKO
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) April 19, 2022
Liverpool played some sparkling football at times, and a special mention has to go to their superb second goal, but the best moment of the match came off the pitch in the seventh minute when the two sets of fans joined together to pay tribute to Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Man United number seven revealed on Tuesday that his newborn son had died, resulting in his absence from the squad for their trip to Anfield.
The football community ensured that the five-time Ballon d'Or winner knew that it was thinking of him, though, with all four sides of Anfield giving him a heartwarming minute's applause.
BEST STAT
🤩 - Most goals versus Manchester United in a Premier League season
— Gracenote Live (@GracenoteLive) April 19, 2022
9️⃣ - @LFC (2021/22)
7️⃣ - Tottenham Hotspur (2020/21)
7️⃣ - Manchester City (2011/12 & 2013/14)
7️⃣ - Chelsea (1999/2000)
7️⃣ - Southampton (1996/97)#EPL #LIVMUN
5 - Mohamed Salah is the first player in Premier League history to score 5 goals against Manchester United in a single season. Alive. pic.twitter.com/UfHPTbxaal
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 19, 2022
MATCH STATS
Possession: Liverpool 72%-28% Man United
Shots: Liverpool 14-2 Man United
Shots on target: Liverpool 5-1 Man United
Corners: Liverpool 10-2 Man United
Fouls: Liverpool 3-6 Man United
LINEUPS
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Robertson; Henderson, Fabinho (Milner 86'), Thiago (Keita 80'); Salah, Mane, Diaz (Jota 70')
MAN UNITED (3-4-3): De Gea; Lindelof, Jones (Sancho 46'), Maguire; Wan-Bissaka, Pogba (Lingard 10'), Matic, Dalot; Fernandes, Rashford, Elanga (Mejbri 84')
Barney Corkhill
