Mohamed Salah scored twice as Liverpool went top of the English Premier League thanks to a resounding 4-0 victory over an abject Manchester United at Anfield on Tuesday.
Luis Diaz and Salah were aiming within 22 minutes to put Jurgen Klopp’s side in contention for the defending champions Manchester City, who are hoping to return to the top when they face Brighton and Hove Albion on Wednesday.
United failed to produce one shot in the first half of a Premier League match for the first time in four years. At the time they came out 2-0 beating City 3-2, but there were few signs of such a fierce fight this time around.
Sadio Mane has confirmed that by adding a positive ending to his role model Salah, who has beaten Liverpool’s first Premier League title twice to beat United since the 2013-14 season.
The Reds spent a short time leading the way, with Salah revealing United’s strong defense and fighting for Diaz to drive home five minutes later.
Fans gathered together in a heartwarming series of support for Cristiano Ronaldo in the seventh minute, the United striker absent following the death of his son.
Paul Pogba was forced out due to injury and Liverpool doubled their lead when Salah added a good ending to a move that included Diaz, Joel Matip and Mane.
United showed great interest after a second-half transfer of interim manager Ralf Rangnick, with a break from Jadon Sancho finally working for Alisson in an effort.
Alisson did well to deny Marcus Rashford et Anthony Elanga a quick one-hour lead, but Liverpool increased their profit in the 68th minute when Mane swept Diaz’s delivery over David de Gea and in the lower right corner.
Salah then used the ball over De Gea five minutes from time as United lost for the third time in a row in the Premier League for the fourth time in the league’s history.