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Liverpool. “Always look on the bright side of life,” chanted Liverpool fans as passengers made their way to the exit.
Eight runs on goal, seven goals scored.
Although unlikely in advance, the rivalry meeting at Anfield was just as cracked as last season.
Less than a year ago, Liverpool knocked out their last Man United here at Anfield. Luis Diaz opened the scoring. Mohamed Salah scored twice, before Sadio Mane made the final score 4-0.
The Man United players, led by a down handed Ralf Rangnick, were struggling to lure into the interview area when the final whistle blew. Defeat in this classic meeting of the big clubs was yet another painful reminder of just how far behind the big teams the Manchester Reds are.
Fast forward to March 2023 and the reality was indeed different. Erik ten Hag and his men went to Liverpool with straight backs and the League Cup in their luggage.
Liverpool’s performance this season is a bit like Jurgen Klopp’s mood swings. Sometimes up, sometimes down. It is not always easy to predict what lies ahead.
Nobody expects this.
The best evening
Sunday night wasn’t the first time that Kwade Jakpo had seriously introduced himself to Liverpool fans. But this Sunday evening will qualify as one of the best for him and his followers.
The first half was relatively even as the Dutchman pulled down the left flank, while Andy Robertson slid in the middle with the ball. Gakpo drifted in, the pass came in and was followed by a shot which settled perfectly at the far post.
It was a defining end for a striker who has waited his time since arriving in England. Incredibly, he produced a better card after the half-time break when he received the ball from Mohamed Salah and sensationally lifted it past goalkeeper David De Gea.
In between, Darwin Nunez was also on the score sheet. Harvey Elliott started the attack with a break, Fabinho shot the ball, Salah shot and Elliott threw the rebound and crossed to the Uruguay.
collapsed
Frustration grew at Man United. At 0-3, Ten Hag replaced Alejandro Garnacho and Scott McTominay. When Salah made it 4-0, the players visibly collapsed. When Núñez scored 5-0, some traveling fans chose to start moving towards the exit.
Salah’s second strike in the 83rd minute created an almost surreal feeling. Roberto Firmino’s final nail in the coffin didn’t really come as a shock, but it had an impact nonetheless.
In a way, it was the Liverpool Dutchman who shone the spotlight, not Man United. And he heard “Mohamed Salah, King of Egypt” from the stands, not “Rashford is red.” It was the home team’s conversions that marked the match, not the opponents.
The only negative group was the Liverpool fan who jumped among the celebrating players after the final goal. As Andy Robertson himself said, their dedication is admirable but becomes downright dangerous when spectators step inside. Especially considering that it rains and turns into sleet.
Clinical Liverpool
Manchester United never recovered from the first two goals behind, after they poured wide. Eight shots on goal, 7-0 to clinical Liverpool. The opponents were completely humiliated. Robertson was great, Salah was great, and Jackbo showed off his rich track record.
It seemed unlikely that history would repeat itself. Those big numbers will shine on the board again. In fact, it was Liverpool’s biggest ever win against Man United, with the previous record set in 1895.
The difference compared to last year was, of course, that Liverpool fought for the league title at that time, and now it is about getting a place in the Champions League. Given Newcastle’s lack of goal production and Tottenham’s unevenness, they certainly have a good chance of partially salvaging the season.