Liverpool’s Luis Diaz celebrates scoring his team’s first goal during the Premier League match between Manchester United FC and Liverpool FC at Old Trafford on September 01, 2024 in Manchester, England. | Photo credit: Getty Images
Two goals from Luis Diaz and one from Mohamed Salah helped Liverpool to a 3-0 win at Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday, with Erik ten Hag’s side humbled by their fierce rivals.
Liverpool dominated a United side who were unable to equalize in the first half, the visitors taking the lead in the 35th minute through Diaz’s back header after United midfielder Casemiro gave the ball away.
Casemiro was again wrong for Diaz and Liverpool’s second, again supplied by Mohamed Salah, with the Colombia international sweeping in three minutes before the break, sent United supporters cheering for the early half hour.
With United on the ropes, Liverpool smelled blood after the break, Salah adding a third 11 minutes into the second half, but the visitors held on for three as they maintained their 100% record this season under new coach Arne Slot.
“The goal was always self-serving,” said United captain Bruno Fernandes Sky Sports. “You have to make mistakes to score goals. We don’t need to point the finger at everyone. That’s not going to help us now.
“When you concede a goal, you can’t just point to one mistake. We don’t have to look at the past. We just have to do something different. We lost the game, congratulations to Liverpool, they were more clinical. I don’t look at the statistics but the game was tight .”
Concern for United
After a positive summer in the transfer market and new faces in the boardroom, last week’s defeat at Brighton and Hove Albion served as a reminder to United supporters of the improvements still needed on the pitch.
Sunday’s visit of Liverpool, who have lost just one of their previous 12 Premier League meetings with United, will raise concerns ahead of the game.
More pessimistic fans were terrified as Trent Alexander-Arnold appeared to fire Liverpool into an early lead at Old Trafford, only for VAR to step in and save the hosts, ruling Salah offside before the move.
United settled into the contest without troubling Liverpool at the back of the pitch, allowing the visitors to pick their moments when they arrived.
Casemiro’s mistake
Casemiro’s unstoppable pass ensured that Slott’s side didn’t have to try too hard to unlock their rivals, Diaz applying the final touch to get Liverpool going.
Diaz’s third of the season is another good result, but another Casemiro wants to forget. The flying Liverpool striker has now scored more goals in the Premier League against United than any other opponent.
Another mistake in midfield, this time from Kobbie Mainoo, was cruelly punished by Salah in the second half, the Egyptian cemented his step as the opposition player with the highest score at Old Trafford in the history of the Premier League – seven strikes.
The visitors went on to secure victory which meant Slott became the first Liverpool manager to win a first meeting with United since Bob Paisley in November 1975, and the second to do so away from home since George Kay in November 1936.
Last season at Liverpool: Wrong
While other Liverpool players celebrated their incredible success, Salah stole the headlines with his post-match thoughts.
Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah celebrates scoring his team’s third goal against Manchester United | Photo credit: Getty Images
“I had a good summer, a long time to stay with myself and think positively, this is my last year with the club and I want to enjoy it,” said the 32-year-old. Sky Sports.
“I feel free to play football – we’ll see what happens next year. Nobody at the club has spoken to me about the contract. It’s not for me, it’s for the club.”
When asked about Salah, Arne Slot replied: “There are many yeses, but now he is one of us and I am very happy with him,” he said.
“I’m not talking about the contract. He was impressive, like the first two games, but if you talk about individuals, you don’t do justice to the others.
