Manchester United has suffered yet another humiliating defeat at the hands of arch-rivals Liverpool, losing 4-0 at Anfield.
It was another dismal performance by Ralf Rangnick’s men and with this, they lost the chance to decrease the gap with top-four contender Tottenham. The first few minutes felt like a game of pinball, with both teams displaying gritty passing, but who would pay the price first?
United was the team that fell behind after just five minutes. The defence crumbled, and Liverpool took advantage of it, with Salah setting up Luis Diaz, who tapped the ball beyond De Gea.
Fans of both clubs stood in sympathy for Cristiano Ronaldo and his family after the death of his newborn baby boy in the seventh minute of the game, a touch of class in a match that is so often aggressive between the two sides.
9 – Manchester United have lost 0-9 on aggregate in their Premier League meetings with Liverpool this season. In their league history, they’ve only suffered a combined heavier defeat once – 0-11 vs Sunderland in 1892-93. Trounced. #LIVMUN pic.twitter.com/ot2bQCn1Er
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 19, 2022
United was on the verge of losing the game, unable to gather themselves and find a way back into it as Liverpool dominated possession and attacks.
Salah once again found the target in the 22nd minute, adding to United’s vows. The club failed to fight back and they registered zero goals on target in the first half. Paul Pogba limped off minutes after the second goal which was making it look more embarrassing.
Phil Jones, who was making only his second appearance for the Reds this season, made a couple of solid clearances, but he looked fatigued after half an hour, while the other players didn’t seem to break a sweat.
Marcus Rashford got a rare chance for United when he got in behind Liverpool’s defense, but he couldn’t control the long pass, which fell sweetly for Alisson. The second half began, as United supporters attempted to get behind their squad. The team went ahead with a more energized performance.
Early into the second half, Alisson was placed under pressure by Rashford, who forced a quick clearing. Sancho had made a difference by infusing pace, and it was he who took United’s first chance on goal, which Alisson easily saved.
However, Sadio Mane made it three for Liverpool with a strike into the bottom corner, just as United was starting to get into the game. Salah added to his tally in the final 10 minutes when he found himself through on goal.
Late substitute Hannibal Mejbri was the team’s most passionate player, making several challenges and putting Liverpool under pressure – the only ray of hope in United’s dreadful display.
Let’s take a look at our three points from United’s crushing defeat against Liverpool:
1. Same Opponent, Same Result
Jürgen Klopp’s side has won 19 of their previous 22 games going into tonight, but some of those victories have been not very ‘beautiful’ at times since mid-January.
That could not be said of them tonight, in a game in which they put their arch-rival to the sword and put to rest the boyhood nightmares of some United fans who grew up watching the club dominate in the 1990s and 2000s.
In the first half, Liverpool scarcely allowed their opponents to breathe, pressing hard on any second ball that fell close to them, continually hassling their opponents and pinging the ball around with ease.
5 – Mohamed Salah is the first player in Premier League history to score 5 goals against Manchester United in a single season. Alive. pic.twitter.com/UfHPTbxaal
— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 19, 2022
The 5-0 victory at Old Trafford over the same opponent in October was the product of complete dominance. Throughout the 90 minutes, they had over 70% possession, completed over 850 passes, and only allowed their opponents two shots on goal.
This was a statement victory for one half of Manchester, but the message was for the other half.
2. Thiago Alcantara single-handedly overpowering the entire United midfield
Thiago Alcântara is currently playing his own orchestra for Liverpool on a weekly basis, leaving us all speechless.
Liverpool has won 13 and drawn one of the 14 league games that the Spaniard has started this season. They’ve played 18, won ten, drawn six, and lost two games without him.
When fit to play, the 31-year-old is one of Europe’s most complete midfielders. His ability to thread a through ball through a packed midfield will have needles in haystacks fearing for their lives. While his pressing and tackling skills will have Klopp bowing down at his feet.
Thiago for Liverpool against Man Utd:
◉ Most touches (129)
◉ Most accurate passes (105)
◉= Most passes in final third (25)
◉ Most duels won (7)
◉ Most successful take-ons (3/3)
◉ Most tackles (3)
◉= Most interceptions (2)He made it look so easy. 🎨
— Squawka (@Squawka) April 19, 2022
In his 80 minutes on the pitch, he won seven duels, completed all three dribbles, and was responsible for three critical passes.
3. Manchester United bleed for the entire 90 minutes
The Manchester United fans who were in attendance at Anfield this evening will not be looking forward to watching this shambolic performance every weekend.
United supporters will be aware that they are not competing on the same field as their arch-rivals at the moment because of the 22-point deficit in the table, but they would not have expected the class divide to be shown so prominently.
After two matches this season, Liverpool had a 9-0 record, and the worst part of their performance was how easy they made it look for their opponents. Throughout the 90 minutes, United only had one shot on target and didn’t complete a pass in the final third until the 41st minute.
Ralf Rangnick’s team had a better performance in the second half thanks to Jadon Sancho’s energetic play, but they never really threatened Alisson Becker.
It was just another pitiful display from a team desperate waiting for the season to end.
