Liverpool embarrassed Manchester United for the alternate time this season to move top of the Premier League as Mohamed Salah struck doubly in a 4-0 thrashing on Tuesday.
Jurgen Klopp’s men won 5-0 at Old Trafford in October and prospects of a analogous rout were well- innovated as Liverpool exposed the massive gulf between the sides with Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane also on target.
Liverpool move two points ahead of Manchester City at the top of the table, but still need the English titleholders to slip up in their remaining seven league games of the season to win the title.
In discrepancy to the fine perimeters separating Liverpool and City, a 22- point gap now lies between the league leaders and United in sixth with only Tottenham and Arsenal’s own shortcomings keeping the Red Devils in the race to qualify for coming season’s Titleholders League.
United interim director Ralf Rangnick cautioned what would be to his side if they defended as they did in a 3-2 home palm over bottom-of-the- table Norwich on Saturday.
The German’s attempt to plug the holes in the United defence was a recall for Phil Jones, making just his alternate Premier League appearance since January 2020, as part of a back five.
But it took just five twinkles for the callers to be cut open.
Mane’s through ball picked out Salah in acres of space and he plant Diaz to apply a simple finish from close range.
Two twinkles latterly the fierce contest between English football’s two most successful clubs was set away in a show of support for Cristiano Ronaldo.
The Portuguese megastar was missing for United after revealing on Monday that his invigorated baby son had failed.
Sympathizers on all sides of Anfield stood for a nanosecond’s applause, while the Liverpool suckers sang their own hymn “ You ’ll noway walk alone”.
On the field, the one- way business continued with United slightly suitable to get out of their own half.
A alternate Liverpool thing sounded ineluctable and when it arrived, it was of the loftiest quality.
Joel Matip whizzed the ball into Mane’s bases and the Senegalese launched a first time pass over the top for Salah.
The Egyptian hadn't scored for Liverpool from open play since February, but showed no signs of a lack of confidence as he gentled the ball into his path and slotted low past David de Gea.
Diaz rounded off another brilliant platoon move ahead half- time only to be flagged offside.
Half- time offered United some respite and they bettered markedly after the break thanks to the preface of Jadon Sancho.
The England winger created the callers’one big chance to get back into the game as Alisson Becker spread himself to block from Marcus Rashford and Anthony Elanga.
Liverpool are now potentially 10 games down from a first ever quadruple of Premier League, Titleholders League, FA Cup and League Cup titles.
And they look set to hurdle on any wobble from City in the run- heft with their murderous collection of forwards each in top form.
Mane coolly steered home the third from Diaz’s cross to end any stopgap of a United reanimation.
Salah also took his census for the season to 30, five of which have come in two games against United, as he lifted the ball over De Gea from Diogo Jota’s pass five twinkles from time.
Source AFP