Mohamed Salah, Cody Gakpo, and Darwin Nunez all scored twice as Liverpool overcame a season of disappointment to defeat Manchester United 7-0 at Anfield on Sunday.
In the matchup between two of English football’s most successful teams, Jurgen Klopp’s team won by a record amount.
United’s chances of winning their first league title in a decade are realistically ended by a second defeat in 23 games across all competitions, as they are still 14 points behind leaders Arsenal in third.
However, the club’s most crushing defeat since 1931 could cause even more long-term harm.
With a game in hand over Spurs, Liverpool is within three points of fourth-place Tottenham.
Last season, Klopp’s team won the two league games they played against each other by a combined score of 9-0. This season, however, it seemed like the other way around.
In August, United started the day 10 points ahead of Liverpool with a 2-1 victory over the Reds. This was Erik ten Hag’s first win as manager of United.
The team that came within striking distance of winning an unprecedented quadruple of trophies last season has not been Liverpool.
However, despite Real Madrid’s home defeat by a score of 5-2, they are back in contention for the Champions League next season thanks to a run of 13 points from a possible 15.
Ten Hag encouraged United’s players to embrace the hostile atmosphere of Anfield, where they have not won since 2016.
Despite having to hold off an early attack, the visitors still arguably had the better chances during a fractious first half.
Marcus Rashford should have continued his blistering goal-scoring streak when he shot timidly into Alisson’s arms. Bruno Fernandes’ shot was just inches wide.
Casemiro’s goal was also disallowed due to offside, but Liverpool finally scored two minutes before halftime with a quality moment in the final third.
Gakpo was played in by Andy Robertson, who cut inside and fired low into the far corner after slicing open the United defense.
After that, Liverpool’s brand-new front three finally clicked, and Ten Hag’s men were blown away in the second period.
As Nunez stooped to head in Harvey Elliott’s cross, the Uruguayan punished United’s careless defense.
Following a lightning Liverpool counterattack, Gakpo scored his second goal with a delightful dink over David de Gea.
United could have done worse, as Robertson and Ibrahima Konate missed opportunities by a few millimeters.
However, Salah scored the goal that was due to his performance when he buried Nunez’s through ball off the underside of the bar.
After Jordan Henderson’s cross, Nunez was completely unmarked when he headed in his second goal.
With a single tap in after more shoddy United defense, Salah became Liverpool’s all-time Premier League goal scorer with 129.
This week, it was made clear that Roberto Firmino will leave for new pastures at the end of the season.
However, the Brazilian came off the bench to score the game-winning goal with a remarkable seventh goal two minutes into extra time.
