Liverpool ended a frustrating season by beating Manchester United 7-0 at Anfield on Sunday. Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez, and Mohamed Salah all scored twice.
In the match between English football’s two most successful clubs, Jurgen Klopp’s team won by the most points ever.
“It was one of the best shows I’ve seen in a very long time. Everyone saw how good the boys could be, “said Klopp.
“The start of the second half could not be better. From then on, we were on fire, and it was hard for other teams to beat us.”
United’s chances of winning the league title for the first time in 10 years are likely over if they lose their second of 23 games in all competitions. They are 14 points behind leaders Arsenal in third place.
But the club’s record-tying loss in a competitive game, which was also the worst since 1931, could do even more long-term damage.
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“The result is pretty clear. It’s not a good look, “said United manager Erik ten Hag.
“There are a lot of things that get me mad. To give up so many goals so easily has to be one.”
Spurs are in fourth place, but Liverpool is only three points behind them and has a game in hand.
Last season, Klopp’s team beat the other team’s two league games by a combined score of 9-0, but it seems like things have changed this year.
In August, United beat Liverpool 2-1, which was Erik ten Hag’s first win as manager. At the start of the day, United was 10 points ahead of Liverpool.
Liverpool hasn’t looked like the same team that nearly won a record-setting four trophies last year.
But between a 5-2 loss at home to Real Madrid, they won 13 of a possible 15 points in the Premier League to get back in the race for a spot in the Champions League next season.
“Everyone has to understand us. Everyone needs to know that we are still here “added Klopp. “We have to be like that from now on”
Ten Hag told his players to enjoy the hostile atmosphere at Anfield, where United hasn’t won since 2016.
But they fell apart when Gakpo let the water in two minutes before halftime.
The United defense was opened up by Andy Robertson’s pass to the Dutch international, who cut inside and shot low into the far corner.
Then, in the second half, Ten Hag’s team was blown away by Liverpool’s new front three.
Nunez took advantage of United’s bad defense when the Uruguayan got low to head in a cross from Harvey Elliott.
Gakpo scored his second goal a few minutes later with a beautiful dink over David de Gea at the end of a quick Liverpool counterattack.
United could have done even worse, as Robertson and Ibrahima Konate both missed by just a few inches.
Salah scored the goal he deserved when he hit Nunez’s through ball off the underside of the crossbar.
Nunez then scored his second goal when Jordan Henderson crossed the ball and no one was near him.
Salah scored Liverpool’s 129th goal of all time in the Premier League with a simple tap-in after more bad defense from United.
“I can’t lie, it’s very special,” Salah said. “This song has been on my mind ever since I got here. I always tried to beat the record after my first season.”
This week, it came out that Roberto Firmino will move on at the end of the season.
But the Brazilian came off the bench with two minutes left to play and scored the game-winning goal.
