Liverpool smash seven past shellshocked Man Utd
Liverpool scored six second-half goals to blow away Manchester United 7-0 at Anfield on Sunday evening.
The result means that the Merseyside club dealt their arch-rivals their heaviest defeat in the Premier League in an astonishing performance from Jurgen Klopp’s side.
The Reds ran riot as Mohamed Salah, Darwin Nunez, and Cody Gakpo all scored twice before substitute Roberto Firmino completed the rout late on in what was an absolute humiliation for Eric ten Hag’s side.
Liverpool started the better of the two sides putting pressure on the visitors right from the whistle.
Nunez should have given Liverpool the lead in the 23rd minute but some brilliant last-ditch defending from Lisandro Martinez denied the Uruguayan striker from just six yards out.
Klopp’s men stamped their authority just before halftime when Gakpo cut inside Raphael Varane with a sensational finish in the bottom right corner.
FLOODGATES OPEN IN THE SECOND HALF
The hosts doubled their lead two minutes after the interval when Nunez headed in Harvey Elliot’s cross following a penalty box scramble.
From there onwards, the floodgates opened. Gakpo netted his second in the 50th minute with a brilliant, dinked finish over David De Gea following a lightning-quick counterattack.
The Dutchman received Salah’s threaded ball from the right channel before he put the finishing touches to send the Anfield faithful into delirium.
Three soon became four as Salah capped off yet another counterattack with a lightning finish.
This time Nunez turned provider, with the Egyptian twisting to receive the ball before firing his fierce right-footed effort against the crossbar on its way in.
It was 5-0 in the 75th minute when Nunez headed home again with some improvisation from a free kick in the right wing.
SALAH BECOMES Liverpool’s LEADING pREMIER lEAGUE gOALSCORER
United looked shellshocked with ten Hag cutting a sorry figure on the touchline. The Reds weren’t done yet, as Salah scored again in the 83rd minute following some calamitous defending from the visitors.
Elliot darted in with acres of space in the right wing to find Firmino, but the Brazilian had his shot blocked by Luke Shaw. However, the ball rolled off Firmino to fall into the path of Salah, who slammed it into an empty net.
The goal also meant that the Egyptian now becomes Liverpool’s leading Premier League goal scorer overtaking club legend Robbie Fowler with 129 goals.
Firmino then added a seventh two minutes before time to complete the rout, suggesting that Klopp’s side is peaking at just the right time. Liverpool are now fifth in the standings, just three points adrift of Tottenham for a Champions League berth, with a game in hand over the North London club.
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