Two goals from Luis Diaz helped Liverpool stroll to an easy win over a self-destructive Manchester United at Old Trafford on Sunday afternoon.
An interesting first half swung the Reds’ way when two Casemiro clangers allowed Luis Diaz to bag a brace, with Mohamed Salah getting the away side’s third in the second half.
The Red Devils couldn’t muster up the mammoth response needed to come back from 3-0 down as they slumped to a second defeat in a row, while Liverpool maintained their 100% record in the Premier League, with only reigning champions Manchester City matching their form so far.
How the game unfolded
Recent editions of this rivalry haven’t always lived up to the billing but the desire to compete was quickly evident from both sides, with United looking sharp down the wings in the early exchanges.
The first blow looked to have been landed by the visiting Reds inside ten minutes. Ryan Gravenberch breezed forward and set up Diaz to fire a cross towards Trent Alexander-Arnold who forced the ball over the line, but an offside Salah got a flick and the goal was chalked off by the video assistant.
It was a quieter 20 minutes or so afterwards but United couldn’t make the most of their opportunities on the break. Their play in central midfield was often sloppy, particularly when Liverpool took the lead.
Casemiro’s errant pass was scooped up by Gravenberch. The Dutch midfielder strode forward and slid in Salah, whose clipped cross found both Dominik Szoboszlai and Diaz waiting. It was the Colombian who connected with the header to put Arne Slot’s side 1-0 up.
The visitors’ lead was deserved but it didn’t wake United up. Casemiro again dawdled in midfield and was munched up by Diaz, allowing Salah to cross from the right again, this time low with his left foot for his wing partner to grab his second of the game, picking out the bottom right corner.
Half-time saw the former Real Madrid star substituted with 20-year-old Toby Collyer coming on for his Premier League debut. He nearly made an immediate impact as he nodded down Kobbie Mainoo’s lofted pass, but the striker saw his effort saved in the bottom corner by Alisson.
However, the third goal did not fall for the hosts, with Salah scoring after setting up two goals in the first half. Mainoo was bullied off the ball by Alexis Mac Allister before Szoboszlai picked out the Egyptian to curl past Andre Onana at the near post.
United did show they could create chances when they weren’t imploding, with Alisson required to…
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