Two goals from Luis Díaz and one from Mohamed Salah helped Liverpool to a comfortable 3-0 win at Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday, while Erik ten Hag’s side were humiliated by their arch-rivals.
Liverpool dominated a United team that struggled to keep up in the first half, and the visitors took the lead in the 35th minute through a Diaz header at the far post after United midfielder Casemiro had lost possession.
Casemiro was again at fault for Diaz and Liverpool’s second goal, which was again assisted by Mohamed Salah. The Colombian international scored three minutes before half-time and sent the United fans onto the streets early for the half-time break.
While United were in a tight spot, Liverpool smelled blood after the break. Salah scored a third goal 11 minutes into the second half, but the visitors settled for three goals and maintained their 100 percent season record under new manager Arne Slot.
“The goals are always self-inflicted,” United captain Bruno Fernandes told Sky Sports. “You have to make a mistake to give them the goal. We don’t need to point the finger at everyone. That’s not going to help us now.”
“When you concede a goal, you can’t just point to one mistake. We don’t need to look to the past. We just need to do things differently. We lost the game, congratulations to Liverpool, they were more consistent. I don’t look at the statistics, but the game was close.”
After a positive summer in the transfer market and fresh faces in the management, last week’s last-minute defeat at Brighton and Hove Albion was a stark reminder to United fans that improvements are still needed on the pitch.
The visit on Sunday of a Liverpool side that had lost only one of their last 12 Premier League games against United will have caused great concern ahead of the game.
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The more pessimistic fans feared the worst when Trent Alexander-Arnold appeared to have given Liverpool an early lead at Old Trafford, but the video referee stepped in and saved the hosts as Salah had earlier been adjudged offside.
United got off to a good start without putting Liverpool under pressure on the other side of the pitch, allowing the visitors to capitalise on their chances.
Casemiro’s misplaced pass meant Slot’s side didn’t have to work too hard to get past their opponents, and Diaz provided the finishing touch to put Liverpool ahead.
Diaz’s third goal of the season was another fine finish, but another Casemiro to forget. The pacy Liverpool striker has now scored more Premier League goals against United than any other opponent.
Another mistake in midfield, this time by Kobbie Mainoo, was mercilessly punished by Salah in the second half, with the Egyptian cementing his position as the opposition player with the most goals at Old Trafford in Premier League history – seven.
The visitors went on to record a comfortable victory, meaning Slot becomes the first Liverpool manager since Bob Paisley in November 1975 to win his first game against United, and only the second to do so away from home since George Kay in November 1936.
