‘A game that will be remembered 100 years from now’: Liverpool murders Manchester United

Because it was Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez – two United targets nabbed by Liverpool – who inflicted a defeat which comprehensively ended Erik ten Hag’s slim prospects of profitable the Premier League title.

In a devastating seven-minute burst both aspect of halftime, Dutch ahead Gakpo struck twice, both aspect of a header from Uruguayan striker Nunez, and Jurgen Klopp’s resurgent aspect moved ominously to inside one place of the Champions League spots.

Mo Salah broke Liverpool’s Premier League by hammering a double of his personal to finish United’s distress, then Nunez added his second as United have been crushed and totally humiliated.

There had been fanciful speak of Ten Hag’s aspect aiming for a quadruple in current weeks however these ambitions have definitely been decreased after the heaviest defeat within the historical past of this fixture.

And it was the kind of thrashing which can effectively have a wide-ranging impact on the rest of United’s marketing campaign.

This was solely their second defeat in 21 video games, they usually had secured their first trophy in six years the earlier weekend, however the scale of the victory and the character of their sudden collapse was deeply worrying.

Rampant Liverpool – returning to the classic type of the Klopp period – chalked up a fifth straight Premier League clear sheet and are actually simply three factors behind fourth-placed Tottenham with a recreation in hand.

Even throughout a poor season for Klopp’s aspect, they’ve nonetheless managed to roll over for some high sides at Anfield – Newcastle, Manchester City and now this thumping success over a membership they take pleasure in beating greater than some other opponent.

Dutchman Gakpo, a long-term United goal signed by Liverpool from PSV Eindhoven for $66 million in January, was glorious.

He has 4 targets in his final 5 Premier League appearances and is making an very good early impression.

Nunez, who took extra time to settle, is coming good now with 4 targets in as many appearances.

Liverpol had already been heartened by defeats for top-four rivals Tottenham and Newcastle on Saturday, so this was an ideal weekend for them.

Klopp’s aspect started with an aggressive intent, and a full-throated Anfield behind them, however the first save was Alisson’s – the Reds keeper pushing huge a curling shot from his fellow Brazilian Antony.

With their midfield common, and Carabao Cup last goalscorer, Casemiro struggling to search out his toes early on, Liverpool have been dominant in midfield.

Lisandro Martinez, Ten Hag’s tenacious little Scrappy-doo, beat Nunez to a harmful Andy Robertson cross, then showing to get away with a forearm into the face of Salah.

But whereas Klopp’s males have been all about manic power, for some time, United have been really the extra measured aspect.

They started to emerge as an attacking power, with their fullbacks to the fore.

Diogo Dalot’s centre picked out Bruno Fernandes, who despatched a header huge throughout aim, and Luke Shaw’s diagonal cross launched Marcus Rashford, who duffed a volley when he might need taken a contact and scored.

Fabinho was booked for tripping Rashford and stopping a United counter-attack – and from the ensuing Fernandes free-kick, Casemiro headed into the online however was clearly off-side.

And a minute later, Liverpool seized the lead, Alisson rolled it out to Andy Robertson whose clever cross caught United sq. and launched Gakpo, who minimize inside Raphael Varane and drilled a fierce shot contained in the far submit.

It was Liverpool’s first shot on the right track and it despatched Klopp’s males into the interval with their tails up simply as United had regarded like taking management.

United had come from behind to defeat Barcelona and West Ham within the earlier 11 days – however Liverpool have been straight again at them and doubled their lead inside two minutes of the restart.

If the primary was disappointing from United’s standpoint, the second was shambolic.

Shaw ceded possession with a free cross and a succession of United gamers didn’t make tackles because the guests labored it to the left, the place Harvey Elliott rifled in a centre for Nunez to nod house from shut vary.

United’s collapse was full a few minutes later, with a shocking Liverpool break.

Gakpo’s cross launched Salah down the left and the Egyptian rinsed Martinez, who ended on his bottom, earlier than his return cross noticed Gakpo web with an angled shot.

United howled for a penalty when a scrambling Alisson appeared to journey Fernandes however ref Andy Madley and his VAR have been unmoved.

Salah rammed house the fourth off the underside of the bar after a Gakpo cross had deflected off Scott McTominay.

Fifteen minutes from time, United didn’t clear a Trent Alexander-Arnold free-kick and when Jordan Henderson floated in a centre Nunez nutted house his second.

United had been minimize to ribbons and have been shedding their heads, McTominay escaping with a yellow card for a horrible problem on Gakpo, Shaw – who had a surprising second half – getting concerned with Nunez and Fernandes exhibiting loads of all-round petulance.

So it was no actual shock when Liverpool netted their sixth – Salah breaking Robbie Fowler’s file along with his 129th Premier League strike for the Reds.

And sub Roberto Firmino fired the seventh to ship The Kop into raptures, United’s defence a shambles once more because the Brazilian transformed a Salah cross.

This article was initially revealed by The Sun and reproduced with permission

Originally revealed as ‘A game that will be remembered 100 years from now’: Liverpool murders Manchester United 7-0