Liverpool, United Kingdom: Cody Gakpo scored twice, Darwin Nunez scored twice, and Mohamed Salah scored twice as the Reds brushed off a disappointing season by thrashing Manchester United, 7-0, at Anfield on Sunday.
In the matchup between two of the most successful clubs in English football history, Jurgen Klopp’s squad established a new record for largest margin of victory.
I haven’t seen a performance that good in a very long time. “I think everyone saw what the boys are capable of,” Klopp said.
The second half has gotten off to a fantastic start. Once we got going like that, we were nearly impossible to beat.
Since they are currently 14 points behind league leaders Arsenal and in third place, a second loss in 23 games across all competitions will likely end United’s hopes of winning the league for the first time in a decade.
A record-tying defeat for the club in a competitive game could do even more long-term harm than the heaviest defeat since 1931.
The end result is plain to see. It is unprofessional,” said United manager Erik ten Hag.
I’m easily irritated by a lot of different things. One of them is undoubtedly giving up goals so easily.
With a game in hand, Liverpool is within striking distance of fourth-place Tottenham, closing the gap to just three points.
Last year, Klopp’s team swept both league meetings between the teams by a combined score of 9-0. However, it appeared that the tables had turned this year.
United’s first win under Erik ten Hag came in August, a 2-1 victory over the Reds. United started the day 10 points ahead of Liverpool.
Liverpool hasn’t looked like the same team that nearly won a record-breaking four trophies last year.
Despite a 5-2 home defeat at the hands of Real Madrid, they have won 13 of their last 15 Premier League games and are once again in the hunt for a spot in next season’s Champions League.
Everyone must experience us. There must be no doubt that we are still operational,” Klopp emphasized. That is what we must become going forward.
United has not won at Anfield since 2016, and Ten Hag has instructed his players to embrace the hostile environment.
However, they fell apart after Gakpo released the floodgates two minutes before halftime.
The United defense was sliced open by Andy Robertson, who then played in the Dutch international, who cut inside and fired low into the far corner.
The second half was a rout for Ten Hag’s squad as Liverpool’s revamped front three found their rhythm.
United paid the price for some sloppy play when the Uruguayan dipped to head in Harvey Elliott’s cross from close range, scored by Luis Nunez.
A few minutes later, Gakpo scored his second with a delightful dink over David de Gea at the end of a lightning Liverpool counterattack.
Robertson and Ibrahima Konate both had golden opportunities that narrowly missed the target, so it could have been much worse for United.
Salah finally got the goal his performance merited when he smashed in Nunez’s through ball off the underside of the bar.
When Jordan Henderson crossed, Nunez was left all alone and he scored again.
After more sloppy defending from United, Salah tapped in a loose ball to become Liverpool’s all-time Premier League goalscorer with 129.
It’s very special, Salah admitted. Since arriving at this location, I’ve had this record playing in my head. Especially after my rookie year, I was fixated on breaking the record.
It was announced this week that Roberto Firmino would be leaving at the end of the season.
However, with two minutes remaining, the Brazilian substitute scored the game-winning goal.
