Words by Ciaran Coyle
Liverpool maintain their perfect start to the season into the international break as Arne Slot’s side demolish Manchester United on Sunday afternoon.
A brace from Luis Diaz in the first half and a customary Old Trafford goal for Mohamed Salah gave the visitors an insurmountable three goal advantage and inflicted a result which sees Erik Ten Hag’s side fall to 14th place after only three Premier League games.
This result helps to continue United’s miserable record against their biggest rivals with the Red Devils now managing just one victory over Liverpool in their last 13 league meetings.
It was Trent Alexander-Arnold who had the ball in the back of the net first for the visitors when Lisandro Martinez failed to keep out the defender’s back post effort. Despite a camera kiss for good luck, the goal was ruled out as replays showed Salah in an offside position in the build-up.
However, it was not long before Liverpool notched their first of the afternoon, with Casemiro’s careless pass into midfield intercepted by Ryan Gravenberch finding its way to Salah whose back post cross was met by the head of Diaz in the 36th minute.
Casemiro, who was substituted at half time, was again guilty of needlessly gifting possession back to the opposition as the Brazilian midfielder was eased off the ball by Diaz who then found himself alone in the penalty area to fire past Andre Onana in the United goal following another superb intricate passage of play from Slots men to double the advantage.
Salah, who has hinted this may be his last season at Liverpool, put the icing on the cake in the second half as he slotted past Onana in the 56th minute following yet more sloppiness in the Man United midfield. Kobbie Mainoo this time the man who gave up possession too easily, allowing a four-on-two situation for Liverpool in United’s final third which they made sure didn’t go unpunished.
Erik Ten Hag’s side travel to Southampton in 13 days time in their next Premier League match while Arne Slot’s Liverpool host Nottingham Forest.
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