Liverpool outclassed a desperate Manchester United in an embarrassingly one-sided affair at Anfield to go top of the Premier League.
Manchester City can regain their place at the summit against Brighton on Wednesday but this was another thrilling reminder of how Jurgen Klopp’s team are determined to chase them down in the hunt for a historic quadruple.
It was also a graphic illustration of the giant task facing United’s manager-elect Erik ten Hag as United were run ragged by the Liverpool powerhouse, the gulf in quality and attitude between the sides a chasm.
United were without Cristiano Ronaldo following the death of his new-born son and both sets of supporters paid a moving tribute with applause in the seventh minute.
Liverpool were already in front by then, Luis Diaz sweeping home Salah’s pass before the Egyptian ended his eight-game goalless sequence from Sadio Mane’s brilliant pass after 22 minutes.
Mane ended any slim hopes United had of making this a challenging evening for Liverpool with a first-time finish from Diaz’s pass in the 69th minute before Salah completed the rout with five minutes left.
After their 5-0 win at Old Trafford in October, Liverpool are the first club to score at least eight Premier League goals against United in a single season.
The victory moves Jurgen Klopp’s side two points clear of defending champions City, who have seven matches left to play before facing Brighton at Etihad Stadium on Wednesday. It also confirmed they will play Champions League football next season.
United, who could have moved level on points with fourth-placed Tottenham, remain sixth. On Saturday, the Red Devils go to fifth-placed Arsenal.
Make no mistake, it could have been five and more, Liverpool going off the boil for the early part of the second half before returning to the rampant form of the first half to finish United off.
Interim manager Ralf Rangnick has been brutal about his side’s failings and they will soon be Ten Hag’s problem – and this was so bad it is hard to know where to start.
United were without Ronaldo and were so reduced that defender Phil Jones was drafted in for a rare start. He deserves sympathy rather than criticism because this was the very definition of a hiding to nothing and it was no surprise when he was replaced at half-time.
Liverpool were vastly superior, which can happen, but what was inexcusable was United’s lack of fight, heart and even tackling as they looked a beaten team from the moment Diaz put them behind.
There was a very slight improvement after the break – it could not get worse – but even so this was a performance coupled with a dreadful attitude that was an embarrassment to a club of Manchester United’s stature.
