Manchester United 0-5 Liverpool
Premier League games, in fact football matches generally, don’t come any bigger.
So, to be humiliated in your own backyard by your greatest rivals is the ultimate embarrassment.
The headlines which will follow in the next few days should not detract from a five-star performance from Liverpool of course.
The fact is, however, that Manchester United would have struggled to beat virtually anyone with this display.
No spine, no plan, a shambolic defence gave little protection and, quite frankly, some players not playing for their manager.
Lacking in belief and organisation, this was not only a devastating result for United but showed up what has long been felt by many for some time.
That Ole Gunnar Solskjaer should never have been given the job in the first place and, almost three years on, there remains no discernible playing identity under his stewardship.
The dignified Norwegian has done much to restore harmony at the club and his place in club folklore as a player is assured.
This shameful display also cannot be put down solely to him.
However, he should be put out of his misery immediately and an experienced, savvy operator brought in.
As Liverpool celebrated their biggest ever Premier League win at Old Trafford, full of Merseyside Premier League highlights, even they must have struggled to see how far their arch-rivals had fallen.
Highlights of the game
This was a contest both sides came into on the back of edging five-goal Champions League thrillers – Liverpool’s success was particularly impressive as it came in Spain against Spanish champions Atletico Madrid.
United made three changes to the side that lost to Leicester last weekend with Marcus Rashford, who has a fine record against the Merseysiders, and Fred both shaking off knocks to start – the latter partnering the returning Scott McTominay in midfield.
There were also three changes from Liverpool’s last Premier Lague outing with Alisson back in goals, Diogo Jota getting the nod over Sadio Mane and Ibrahima Konate starting in defence.
Brazilian Fabinho, a midweek substitute, was not in the squad.
While that appeared a blow, it did not matter.
Within five minutes, man of the match Mo Salah had opened up the disorganised defence and squared for Naby Keita to score.
Diogo Jota was then left unmarked to add a second just eight minutes later.
It was so easy for Liverpool and two more goals from Salah before the break had United beaten.
The misery continued five minutes after the break as Salah was given the freedom of Old Trafford to complete his hat-trick.
Many home fans had already left by this point and more followed as substitute Paul Pogba summed up his lack of discipline on the big occasion when he was sent off just a quarter of an hour after entering the fray.
A man short, United should be relieved they didn’t concede again in the final half-hour against opponents who were as excellent as they were woeful.
While the SBOTOP Premier League betting odds gave Liverpool the edge, the home fans should be incredulous their team simply did not turn up.
The Old Trafford post-mortem is already underway and it needs to be as clinical as Liverpool were here.
When asked post-match whether he was the right man to take United forward, Solskjaer said: ‘we are too closer to give up now’.
The age of delusion is not dead.
Key statistics
Salah has now scored 107 goals in the Premier League, making him the outright top African goalscorer in the competition’s history, surpassing Didier Drogba (104).
Salah has scored in each of his side’s last seven league matches and has become the first Liverpool player to net in three consecutive away games against United.
Liverpool are only the second team in English top-flight history to win consecutive away games by a margin of 5+ goals without conceding themselves, after United in February/March 1960.
Liverpool have scored three or more goals in nine consecutive away games in all competitions, netting 33 goals in total.
The Merseysiders are unbeaten in 19 league games, the longest current streak of any team in England’s top four divisions (won 14, drawn five).
Liverpool have back-to-back league victories away to United for the first time since 2002.
The Merseysiders are unbeaten in their last 26 top-flight fixtures against teams with ‘United’ in their name – equalling the record in English league football, set by Brentford between October 1998 and November 2000.
United have conceded in each of their last 13 league and cup home matches, their longest run without an Old Trafford clean sheet since a 13-game sequence ending in February 1964.
What’s next?
Man Utd have a rare free midweek now and are next in action at Spurs on Saturday teatime (October 30).
Liverpool head to Preston in the League Cup in midweek before entertaining Brighton at Anfield next Saturday.
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