Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah all scored twice as Liverpool shrugged off a season of frustration to thrash Manchester United 7-0 at Anfield on Sunday.
Jurgen Klopp’s males set a brand new report margin of victory within the conflict between English soccer’s two most profitable golf equipment.
Just a second defeat in 23 video games in all competitions realistically ends United’s hopes of a primary league title in a decade as they continue to be 14 factors adrift of leaders Arsenal in third.
But there might much more lasting harm from the membership’s heaviest defeat since 1931.
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Liverpool near inside three factors of fourth-placed Tottenham with a recreation in hand on Spurs nonetheless to return.
Klopp’s facet received the 2 league conferences between the groups by an combination rating of 9-0 final season, however the tables had seemingly turned this season.
A 2-1 win over the Reds in August gave Erik ten Hag his first win as United boss and so they began the day 10 factors away from Liverpool.
Liverpool have seemed a shadow of the facet that got here near an unprecedented quadruple of trophies final season.
But both facet of a 5-2 humiliation on residence soil by Real Madrid, they’ve again within the race for a spot within the Champions League subsequent season because of a run of 13 factors from a attainable 15 within the Premier League.
Roberto Firmino of Liverpool celebrates after scoring the crew’s seventh objective with teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold through the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Manchester United at Anfield on March 05, 2023 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images)Source: Getty Images
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Ten Hag advised his gamers to embrace the hostile surroundings of Anfield, the place United haven’t received since 2016.
The guests had been compelled to see off an early onslaught, however nonetheless arguably had the higher probabilities of a fractious first half.
Bruno Fernandes headed inches broad and Marcus Rashford ought to have continued his blistering goalscoring type when he fired tamely into the arms of Alisson.
Casemiro additionally noticed a objective dominated out for off-side, however Liverpool lastly produced a second of high quality within the last third to interrupt the impasse two minutes earlier than the break.
Andy Robertson sliced open the United defence to play in Gakpo, who reduce inside and fired low into the far nook.
Ten Hag’s males had been then blown away within the second interval as Liverpool’s new-look entrance three lastly clicked.
Nunez punished sloppy United defending because the Uruguayan stooped to move in Harvey Elliott’s cross.
Moments later, Gakpo scored his second with a pleasant dink over David de Gea on the finish of a lightning Liverpool counter-attack.
Manchester United’s French defender Raphael Varane (L) and Manchester United’s Scottish midfielder Scott McTominay (R) react throughout their howler.Source: AFP
It might have been even worse for United as Robertson and Ibrahima Konate noticed efforts fly inches broad.
But Salah acquired the objective his efficiency deserved as he crashed in Nunez’s by way of ball off the underside of the bar.
Nunez then headed in his second as he was left fully unmarked from Jordan Henderson’s cross.
Salah moved outright as Liverpool’s all-time Premier League goalscorer with 129 with a easy faucet in after extra shambolic United defending.
Roberto Firmino will transfer on to pastures new on the finish of the season it was revealed this week.
But the Brazilian got here off the bench to have the ultimate say as he slotted a exceptional seventh two minutes from time.
Liverpool’s Uruguayan striker Darwin Nunez (L) celebrates with Liverpool’s English defender Trent Alexander-Arnold (R) after scoring their fifth objective through the English Premier League soccer match between Liverpool and Manchester United at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on March 5, 2023. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)Source: AFP
