Liverpool handed Manchester United a painful defeat on Tuesday evening. Jürgen Klopp’s team won 4-0 against the arch-rival in front of its own audience. Liverpool imposed their will on the visitors in large parts of the game through flashy football; only in the first quarter of the second half did Manchester United look somewhat menacing. With the win, Liverpool takes the lead from Manchester City, which has two points less and will play against Brighton & Hove Albion on Wednesday.
Manchester United hoped to retaliate after their 0-5 defeat to Liverpool earlier this season, but certainly did not claim a result. Cristiano Ronaldo was unable to attend the match due to sad private circumstances. On Monday it was announced that Ronaldo and his wife Georgina Rodríguez have lost one of their two expected children: a son did not survive the birth, but a daughter was born healthy. After seven minutes, to Ronaldo’s jersey number, Ronaldo received a standing ovation from Liverpool supporters and You’ll Never Walk Alone sounded at Anfield.
Goosebumps! † All of Anfield clap at minute 7 for Cristiano Ronaldo’s situation ????#ZiggoSport #PremierLeague #LIVMUN pic.twitter.com/pBRki4smh6
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) April 19, 2022
At the time of the emotional minute, Liverpool were already leading 1-0. A lightning-fast attack was completed by Luis Díaz. A through ball from midfield over the right wing ended up with Mohamed Salah, who suddenly passed the ball from the side of the box. Díaz then hit from close range. Through a smooth combination, Liverpool doubled the margin halfway through the first half. With a razor-sharp, backward pass, Mane enabled his team-mate Salah to take the ball into the penalty area and pass goalkeeper David de Gea.
Liverpool???????????? Manchester United! † It’s one hit, a masterful ball from Mane and the finishing of Salah: 2-0 ??#ZiggoSport #PremierLeague #LIVMUN pic.twitter.com/dvyJM5MSGI
— Ziggo Sport Football (@ZS_Voetbal) April 19, 2022
The statistics in the first half were heavily in Liverpool’s favour: 76 for 24 percent possession, 9 for 0 attempts, 7 for 1 corners. The game was more even in the second half. Marcus Rashford and Anthony Elanga forced Alisson Becker to a save; in the rebound, Rashford was flagged off, but he didn’t appear to be offside and might have scored. Shortly afterwards, it hit the other side. Once again the home side launched a flashy attack; this time Mané was the finishing touch on a cross from Díaz. Salah completed the humiliation five minutes before the end. He became the first Premier League player ever to score five goals in one season against Manchester United.