Liverpool humiliate Man U in biggest defeat in 92 years

0
820

WELL at least there is a consolation for Manchester United after this devastating derby drubbing – their scouting department is clearly on the ball.

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 winning the Premier League title.

In a devastating seven-minute burst either side of half-time, Dutch forward Gakpo struck twice, either side of a header from Uruguayan striker Nunez, and Jurgen Klopp’s resurgent side moved ominously to within one place of the Champions League places.

Mo Salah broke Liverpool’s Premier League by hammering a double of his own to complete United’s misery, then Nunez added his second as United were crushed and utterly humiliated.

There had been fanciful talk of Ten Hag’s side aiming for a quadruple in recent weeks but those ambitions have certainly been reduced after the heaviest defeat in the history of this fixture.

And it was the sort of thrashing which may well have a wide-ranging effect on the remainder of United’s campaign.

This was only their second defeat in 21 games, and they had secured their first trophy in six years the previous weekend, but the scale of the victory and the nature of their sudden collapse was deeply worrying.

Even during a poor season for Klopp’s side, they have still managed to roll over for some top sides at Anfield – Newcastle, Manchester City and now this thumping success over a club they enjoy beating more than any other opponent.

Dutchman Gakpo, a long-term United target signed by Liverpool from PSV Eindhoven for £37m in January, was excellent.

Nunez, who took more time to settle, is coming good now with four goals in as many appearances.

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

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

With their midfield general, and Carabao Cup final goalscorer, Casemiro struggling to find his feet early on, Liverpool were dominant in midfield.

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

But while Klopp’s men were all about manic energy, for a while, United were actually the more measured side.
They began to emerge as an attacking force, with their full-backs to the fore.

Diogo Dalot’s centre picked out Bruno Fernandes, who sent a header wide across goal, and Luke Shaw’s diagonal pass released Marcus Rashford, who duffed a volley when he might have taken a touch and scored.

Fabinho was booked for tripping Rashford and stopping a United counter-attack – and from the resulting Fernandes free-kick, Casemiro headed into the net but was clearly offside.

And a minute later, Liverpool seized the lead, Alisson rolled it out to Andy Robertson whose artful pass caught United square and released Gakpo, who cut inside Raphael Varane and drilled a fierce shot inside the far post.