Liverpool moved to the top of the Premier League after trouncing Manchester United 4-0 at Anfield.

 

Luis Diaz swept them ahead in the fifth minute after an inviting cross from Salah. If that was a good team goal, the second was even better: 25 passes, involving every player except Virgil van Dijk, culminating in a stunning ball from Mane. Salah took it in his stride and beat David de Gea with ease.

 

United, who were dismal in the first half, improved after the break. But just as Anfield was starting to get a little edgy, Mane made it 3-0 in the 66th minute with a clinical finish from Diaz’s cross.

Salah completed the scoring – and made it 9-0 in the two matches against United this season – after a devastating through ball from the substitute Diogo Jota.

Jurgen Klopp’s verdict

“We were completely in charge for around 70 minutes of the game. I thought our counter-attacking was unbelievable: the speed, the desire to win the ball back. It was a really good game with some wonderful goals, and everyone is happy.

“Thiago… [breaks into a big smile]… Yeah, not bad! He’s a world-class player. When he fells the game, when he has rhythm, he can be … pretty dangerous.

“[On beating United 9-0 across both games]. Our fans are smart – they know these things will not happen often. United are not in a good moment, with all the injuries they have and all these things. They will come back. But for our fans tonight was a big one, and they deserve every bit of joy.

“I loved it [Liverpool fans applauding Cristiano Ronaldo in the seventh minute]. That’s how football should be. All our thoughts are with Cristiano and his family. I cannot even imagine how that must be, and we really feel for him.”

More from Ralf Rangnick

“We have to admit that we are not at their level, but we have five games to play and now the focus has to be on Saturday’s game at Arsenal.

“Liverpool only needed two or three transfer windows until they had a competitive team. If you know what you are looking for, it doesn’t have to take four or five years. In our club, it has to start this summer.”

“We were not up to it, especially the first half. It was not part of the game plan to be as high up as we were for their first goal. In the first half we were nowhere, second best in all relevant areas. It was just not good enough.

“Second half, I thought the first 25 minutes were better. But then again, we played the kind of ball for the third goal that we didn’t want to play, into their pressing zone, and the fourth goal was similar. They showed their calibre; right now we are not good enough to be at their level. We are not physical or athletic enough.

“[Are the players not trying hard enough?] I’m pretty sure the players knew about the importance of that game. In order to get something in a game like this, you have to be on them and cause them problems. We did it for 25 minutes in the second half but that’s not enough.”