Liverpool 7-0 Manchester United: Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah all bag braces in astonishing win
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Updated 24/04/2023 at 16:48 GMT
Manchester United suffered their joint-heaviest defeat in history as Liverpool ran out 7-0 winners in an astonishing game at Anfield. Jurgen Klopp’s side ran riot in the second half, having only taken the lead in the 43rd minute via Cody Gakpo. The brilliant Dutchman, Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah all grabbed braces, while substitute Roberto Firmino completed the demolition late on.
Ten Hag claims Man Utd players 'did not do their jobs'
Cody Gakpo, Mohamed Salah and Darwin Nunez scored twice apiece as Liverpool routed Manchester United 7-0 in an extraordinary game at Anfield, boosting their top-four hopes and quieting talk of Erik ten Hag's side making a title charge.
Gakpo opened the scoring at the end of a frenetic first half, curling the ball home after Andy Robertson produced a defence-splitting pass.
It had been fairly even up to that point, but Liverpool took the game in a crazy five minutes after the break. First Nunez headed in from close range before Gakpo linked up with Salah and beat David de Gea with a deft chip.
Salah grabbed the fourth, emphatically smashing a bouncing ball into the roof of the net, and that took him level with Robbie Fowler on a club-record 128 Premier League goals for Liverpool.
Nunez added the fifth with his head on a remarkable day for Liverpool, before Salah scored a scruffy sixth to move clear of Fowler in the record books. Substitute Roberto Firmino completed the destruction late on.
Liverpool are now just three points off the Champions League places with a game in hand.
TALKING POINT - Liverpool's domination of the rivalry reaches new height
United have not won at Anfield since 2016, but given the contrasting moods around the two clubs an away win would have seemed to represent a shift in this rivalry's power dynamic. Instead we got an emphatic demonstration of Liverpool's enduring quality and a reminder of who really rules this rivalry at present.
Three of the last four meetings between these two have finished 4-0, 5-0 and now 7-0 to Liverpool, while United have just one victory in the last 10 league games between the pair. Ten Hag's side may be ascending and they almost certainly will finish this season with more silverware than Jurgen Klopp's men, but this showed they are still some way off Liverpool's peak level - perhaps mentally as much as tactically. It was an annihilation in the end.
PLAYER OF THE MATCH - Cody Gakpo (Liverpool)
It became farcical in the closing stages and some of Liverpool's goals were almost embarrassing to watch, but not Gakpo's. He took both brilliantly and offered a directness the ragged visitors could not cope with. That Gakpo was linked to United for so long will only add salt to the wound - or be reason for additional satisfaction if you're a Liverpool fan.
PLAYER RATINGS
Liverpool: Alisson 6, Alexander-Arnold 6, van Dijk 7, Konate 6, Robertson 7, Fabinho 6, Henderson 7, Elliott 6, Salah 8, Gakpo 9, Nunez 8. Subs: Milner 6, Bajcetic 6, Firmino 7, Jota 6, Jones n/a.
Manchester United: De Gea 5, Dalot 5, Varane 5, Martinez 5, Shaw 3, Fred 5, Casemiro 5, Fernandes 3, Antony 4, Rashford 5, Weghorst 4. Subs: Garnacho 5, McTominay 4, Malacia 4, Sabitzer 4, Elanga n/a.
MATCH HIGHLIGHTS
43' - GOAL! Liverpool 1-0 Man Utd (Gakpo): Robertson finds Gakpo with a defence-splitting pass and the Dutchman cuts onto his right foot before finishing brilliantly.
47' - GOAL! Liverpool 2-0 Man Utd (Nunez): What a start to the second half for the hosts! It's dreadful from United, but Liverpool do not care as Elliott's cross is nodded in by Nunez.
50' - GOAL! Liverpool 3-0 Man Utd (Gakpo): Gakpo links up with Salah, who carries the ball forward before playing a return pass and Gakpo produces a stunning dink to beat de Gea. Anfield is bouncing.
66' - GOAL! Liverpool 4-0 Man Utd (Salah): Incredible scenes as Liverpool make it 4-0! Salah emphatically smashes a bouncing ball beyond de Gea - this is becoming a rout.
75' - GOAL! Liverpool 5-0 Man Utd (Nunez): Henderson recycles the ball from a free kick and crosses for Nunez, who jumps highest and flicks a header into the far corner.
83' - GOAL! Liverpool 6-0 Man Utd (Salah): It is a scrappy goal, but Salah does not care and neither do his adoring fans. As United fail to clear, Salah slams home from close range to move clear of Fowler in the record books.
88' - GOAL! Liverpool 7-0 Man Utd (Firmino): Salah turns provider, finding Firmino who scores from a tight angle after the chance looked to have gone. A very popular scorer.
KEY STATS
- This is Liverpool's biggest-ever win against Manchester United.
- Liverpool have kept five clean sheets in a row in the Premier League.
- Salah is the first Liverpool player to score in six consecutive matches versus the Red Devils.
- This is tied for United's heaviest defeat of all time.
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