Liverpool have recorded their biggest-ever victory over Manchester United courtesy of a 7-0 humiliation of their greatest rivals at Anfield this afternoon.
On a remarkable day on Merseyside, Liverpool scored all of their goals after the 43rd minute including six in an utterly dominant second-half display which saw Man United capitulate.
The visitors had been in the game for the vast majority of the first half, even creating the better chances of the opening 45 minutes until Cody Gakpo gave Liverpool the lead shortly before half time.
However, there was only one team in the second half, with Darwin Nunez doubling the lead two minutes after the restart before Gakpo added a third in the 50th minute.
Mohamed Salah then scored either side of Nunez's second to move out on his own as Liverpool's highest-ever Premier League goalscorer, before Roberto Firmino finished off the rout in the dying stages.
The victory eclipses Liverpool's previous biggest win over Man United - a 7-1 triumph against Newton Heath in 1895 - while it is Man United's joint-heaviest ever defeat, and the first time they have lost by seven since Boxing Day in 1931.
Jurgen Klopp's side, meanwhile, move to within three points of the Champions League spots with a game in hand over fourth-placed Tottenham Hotspur, having taken 10 points from the last 12 on offer, keeping four clean sheets on the bounce in the league.
HIGHLIGHTS
9th min: Man United's first attack of the game results in the first shot of the game as Antony cuts onto his left foot and tries to bend a low shot into the corner from 25 yards, but Alisson Becker is down to make a relatively comfortable save.
23rd min: Andrew Robertson lifts a cross into the box and Darwin Nunez gets there just ahead of Lisandro Martinez, but the Man United centre-back manages to get a toe on the ball with a desperate last-ditch challenge to divert it behind for a corner.
WHAT A BLOCK BY MARTINEZ! 👏🤯 pic.twitter.com/FBQfVvbSpt
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 5, 2023
26th min: Big chance for the visitors as Diogo Dalot whips a fine cross to the back post for Bruno Fernandes, who steers a diving header back across goal and just past the far post with Alisson beaten.
27th min: Another opening for Man United as Luke Shaw cuts the Liverpool defence open with a brilliant diagonal ball which finds Marcus Rashford, whose attempted first-time finish is tame and easy for Alisson.
33rd min: Dalot meets a free kick from the left with a decent header, but it is a comfortable one for Alisson to gather.
43rd min: GOAL! LIVERPOOL 1-0 MANCHESTER UNITED (CODY GAKPO)
Liverpool take the lead just before half time, and it is a really good finish from Cody Gakpo! Robertson releases the Dutchman with a fine through-ball inside the full-back, and then Gakpo cuts inside past Raphael Varane before curling it into the bottom corner.
WHAT A FINISH FROM CODY GAKPO 👏👏 pic.twitter.com/FsymQuFObF
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 5, 2023
47th min: GOAL! LIVERPOOL 2-0 MANCHESTER UNITED (DARWIN NUNEZ)
After a dream end to the first half, Liverpool have made a dream start to the second half too! It is a messy goal, with Man United missing a number of chances to clear their lines before Harvey Elliott fires a ball across goal which Darwin Nunez gets his head to to steer home. It was good battling from Liverpool to keep the ball alive, but Erik ten Hag will watch that goal back through his fingers.
WHAT A START TO THE SECOND-HALF FOR LIVERPOOL 💪
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 5, 2023
Darwin Núñez 🔥 pic.twitter.com/cb4KSBzmJC
49th min: Antony looks to provide an immediate response for Man United with a powerful effort from range, but it is straight into the hands of Alisson.
50th min: GOAL! LIVERPOOL 3-0 MANCHESTER UNITED (CODY GAKPO)
Liverpool have their third, with all of the goals coming in a seven-minute spell of playing time! This time it is a sweeping team move from the back, with Mohamed Salah released down the right and taking Martinez on. The Argentine is turned inside out before slipping, and Salah slides a pass in for Gakpo, who dinks it confidently over David de Gea from a tight angle.
Gakpo adds a THIRD with stunning finish past De Gea 🤯✅ pic.twitter.com/n6zPLlB7HF
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 5, 2023
55th min: Alisson almost gifts Man United a route back into the match as the ball squirms under his foot when he tries to control it, allowing Bruno Fernandes to steal in. However, Alisson does just about enough with a scrambling save to redeem himself, with Fernandes going down and claiming unsuccessfully for a penalty.
56th min: Liverpool maybe should have a fourth here as Gakpo does really well to keep hold of the ball inside the area and smuggle it to Robertson, who curls it just wide with his weaker right foot when he had a lot of the goal to aim at.
58th min: Another big chance for Liverpool as Ibrahima Konate comes steaming in to meet a corner, but he glances it just wide when it looked destined to nestle into the back of the net.
66th min: GOAL! LIVERPOOL 4-0 MANCHESTER UNITED (MOHAMED SALAH)
In the week when it was confirmed that Salah will be the last remaining member of Liverpool's famous front three, he ensures that all of their new front three are on the scoresheet, and he does so in style too. There is a slice of luck about the goal as Nunez's pass deflects off Scott McTominay and into the path of Salah, who lashes a brilliant first-time finish off the underside of the bar with his right foot.
Mo Salah equals Robbie Fowler's record for most Premier League goals in a Liverpool shirt 🤩🔴 pic.twitter.com/G9dWYUzFO6
— Sky Sports Premier League (@SkySportsPL) March 5, 2023
76th min: GOAL! LIVERPOOL 5-0 MANCHESTER UNITED (DARWIN NUNEZ)
It is five for Liverpool! Jordan Henderson clips a cross into the box from the left flank and Nunez meets it with a perfectly-judged backward header which nestles into the far corner.
83rd min: GOAL! LIVERPOOL 6-0 MANCHESTER UNITED (MOHAMED SALAH)
Incredible scenes at Anfield as Liverpool add a sixth goal! It is another messy one, with some of the Man United defenders having seemingly given up completely now. Shaw is one of those and he tries to hack the ball clear from inside his box, but there is no thought behind it and the ball bounces to Salah, who converts it for his record 129th Premier League goal for the club.
89th min: GOAL! LIVERPOOL 7-0 MANCHESTER UNITED (ROBERTO FIRMINO)
Roberto Firmino comes off the bench to add a second, in the week it was revealed that he will leave the club! Again, there is far too much room inside the box as Firmino collects Salah's pass before moving inside the six-yard box and squeezing a low finish through the legs of De Gea from a tight angle!
MAN OF THE MATCH - MOHAMED SALAH
© Reuters
Take your pick. All of Liverpool's starting front three helped themselves to brace on a historic day at Anfield, and any of them would have been worthy winners of this award.
Gakpo in particular was superb, but in the end we are giving it to Mohamed Salah, who not only scored twice to become Liverpool's leading scorer in Premier League history, but also helped himself to two assists as well.
The Egyptian looked sharp and dangerous from the very first whistle, and he continues to be the scourge of Man United, with his first goal in particular being a ruthless finish.
STANDOUT MOMENT
© Reuters
There were so many standout moments for Liverpool on a day that will live long in the memory, but this one goes to Salah's 129th Premier League goal for Liverpool - a tally no other player in the illustrious history of the club has reached before.
It was a scrappy goal, but the Egyptian will not care one bit as he moved past Robbie Fowler - a man known as 'God' by the Liverpool fans - in the scoring ranks with his second of the night.
Salah's first goal also deserves a mention due to the sheer quality of the finish, while Gakpo's second was also of the highest order and there was also a special moment for Roberto Firmino to wrap up the scoring in the week it was announced that he will leave the club this summer.
BEST STATS
5 - Cody Gakpo is only the fifth Liverpool player to score goals in home games against both Everton and Manchester United in one Premier League season and the first to do so since Daniel Sturridge in 2013-14. Endearment. pic.twitter.com/ZUn504p9uq
— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) March 5, 2023
9 - Andy Robertson has assisted more goals than any other defender for a Premier League side this season (9), while only Kevin De Bruyne (17) has more overall in all competitions. Unlocked. pic.twitter.com/rl5LBxXSKO
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 5, 2023
6 - Mohamed Salah is the first Liverpool player to score in six consecutive appearances in all competitions against Manchester United. Routine. pic.twitter.com/YFI99O1xw9
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 5, 2023
⚽️ Mohamed Salah is the 2nd player to score in 5⃣ successive PL appearances v Man Utd, after Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink (for Leeds & Chelsea, 1998-2001) pic.twitter.com/MvUFoNQohS
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) March 5, 2023
⚽️ Most PL goals v Man Utd
— Sky Sports Statto (@SkySportsStatto) March 5, 2023
🔟
Alan Shearer
9️⃣
Mohamed Salah 🆕
8️⃣
Sergio Aguero
Les Ferdinand
Robbie Fowler
Steven Gerrard
Thierry Henry
2 - Cody Gakpo & Darwin Núñez are the first Liverpool duo to both score a brace in the same top-flight match against Manchester United since Arthur Goddard & James Stewart in February 1910. Double. pic.twitter.com/28biIStzHt
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 5, 2023
3 - Gakpo, Núñez & Salah are the fourth trio in Premier League history to each score 2+ goals in the same game, and the first since Cole, Yorke & Solskjaer for Manchester United vs Nottingham Forest in February 1999. Triumvirate. pic.twitter.com/Ek65f7XQll
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 5, 2023
7 - Liverpool have recorded their biggest ever competitive win against Manchester United (7-0), surpassing their previous best which was set back in October 1895 (7-1 in the second tier). Rout. pic.twitter.com/u0MR5z07US
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 5, 2023
7 - Manchester United have suffered their joint-heaviest ever competitive defeat, alongside 7-0 losses to Wolves in December 1931, Aston Villa in December 1930 and Blackburn Rovers in April 1926. Crushed. pic.twitter.com/b3QaUO0ETC
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 5, 2023
129 - Mohamed Salah is now Liverpool's all-time leading scorer in the Premier League, netting 129 times in 205 appearances in the competition. King. pic.twitter.com/bMd7RIm2wb
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) March 5, 2023
MATCH STATS
Possession: Liverpool 60%-40% Man United
Shots: Liverpool 18-8 Man United
Shots on target: Liverpool 8-4 Man United
Corners: Liverpool 4-3 Man United
Fouls: Liverpool 13-14 Man United
LINEUPS
LIVERPOOL (4-3-3): Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Konate, Van Dijk, Robertson; Elliott (Jones 80'), Fabinho (Milner 79'), Henderson (Bajcetic 79'); Salah, Gakpo (Firmino 79'), Nunez (Jota 78')
MANCHESTER UNITED (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Dalot, Varane, Martinez (Malacia 77'), Shaw; Casemiro (Sabitzer 77'), Fred (McTominay 59'); Antony, Weghorst (Garnacho 59'), Fernandes; Rashford (Elanga 85')
Barney Corkhill
