Manchester United suffered a humiliating defeat against their biggest rivals, Liverpool, at Anfield in the Premier League. Liverpool’s 5-0 and 4-0 victories over United in the previous season had come at a time when the team was on their knees. This time, however, United came into the match on a high, having lost only once in 22 matches and collecting the Carabao Cup in the process. Despite this, United’s second-half capitulation was total and shameful, with the senior players going missing and everybody seemingly giving up.
The match was a slow-burning start, heavy on physicality, with much of it directed by United at Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, who radiated menace. United flickered on the counterattack as the first half wore on, but Ten Hag’s use of Wout Weghorst in the No. 10 role did not work, nor did Bruno Fernandes on the left. Liverpool turned the screw, and the second half was a golden period for them, the memories of last season flooding back. United were in disarray, with Martinez losing his individual battles, Shaw losing his composure, and Fernandes exhibiting a remorseless stream of petulance.
Liverpool’s second goal followed a strange period of United looseness in their defensive third. They could not get hold of the ball, and when Fabinho floated it left for Salah, his cross hit Shaw and broke for Harvey Elliott, who hammered it back across the goal, where Darwin Núñez glanced it home. Liverpool then ran rampant, with Cody Gakpo scoring a second goal of his own – the pick of the bunch, a delicately clipped finish after Mohamed Salah had bamboozled Lisandro Martínez. Núñez and Salah also helped themselves to two apiece, and the rout was rounded off by the substitute Roberto Firmino, who fired through David de Gea’s legs after a Salah pass.
It was a complete and utter humiliation for Manchester United, who were broken and had no pride, no fight, and no tracking back. Liverpool tore them apart and finished the match with a 7-0 victory. The craziest of occasions finished with the Kop deliriously demanding six, which they got, and then seven. The fan raced onto the pitch to join the celebrations and, with stewards in pursuit, he slipped and went into the posse of Liverpool players, almost injuring Andy Robertson and the substitute Curtis Jones. It was nowhere near to being the top slapstick moment of the contest. The fan earned a furious dressing-down from Klopp as he was led away.
Despite the result, Liverpool have generally been good at home this season and on this occasion, they were on another level. They were everything that United were not during a second period that will live forever in the hearts of their supporters – quick, committed, and ruthless. Liverpool have always finished in the Champions League places during Klopp’s full seasons with them and cannot imagine not being in the next edition of the competition.
In conclusion, Manchester United’s defeat to Liverpool was a complete and utter humiliation for the team, who were broken and had no pride, no fight, and no tracking back. Liverpool tore them apart and finished the match with a 7-0 victory. Despite the result, Liverpool were on another level and were everything that United were not during a second period that will live forever in the hearts of their supporters – quick, committed, and ruthless.
