Not 1, not 2, not 3, but 4 nil to Liverpool. Yes, the Merseyside club beat Manchester United convincingly. With rivals Manchester City playing later in the week, this was Liverpool's chance to go top of the league. And good heavens they played some scintillating stuff. The only time both set of fans at the stadium were in unity with each other, was in the 7th minute. A round of applause for bereaved Cristiano Ronaldo, who lost his baby boy.
The first goal of the game came in the 5th minute. Salah after beating his own player to the ball provided a low cross into the box. The ball found the unmarked Luiz Diaz who slotted the ball into the net. With stats indicating this season that once Liverpool score first, they always go on to win. And so it proved again this time around. There was a confrontation between Liverpool"s Trent Alexander Arnold and goalkeeper David De Gea. This was due to Trent kicking the ball away after the goal to the frustration of De Gea.
UNITED BLUNT ATTACK, RALF'S COMMENT, AND RONALDO'S ABSENCE
Then Ralf Rangnick made a change off came Paul Pogba on came Lingard. The United attack was very blunt for the most part of the game. With just one shot on target the whole game. Untypical of United but that has been the story of the season, as well as a couple of years. Almost all the United players were ghosting in the game. Bruno looking out of his sorts, his passing eractic. Sancho came on later on but that still did not solve the situation. Ralf's comments to the media at full time were simple. a "Drastic" rebuild is necessary. Ralf's comments should send some good news to United fans. Trash out the garbage, and bring in better players to solidify the team.
Was United missing Ronaldo? Well, these days the United forward tends to shy away from defending duties. He prefers to receive the ball at his feet. Perhaps a younger Ronaldo would run and run till he cant no more. Ronaldo in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford did not score. Perhaps if he played it might have made a difference. But enough of the what-ifs United were outclassed both home and away. With Liverpool winning the first meeting of the season at Old Trafford 5-0. Ronaldo is not always going to save United. If changes occur in the side Ronaldo could perhaps flourish. Let's see what the summer holds for him.
MANCHESTER UNITED DEFENSE WAS JUST ABYSMAL
The usual culprit in defense Harry Maguire was just not up to it. Schoolboy defending you will call it. The defense was all over the place. The two so-called fullbacks Dalot and Wan Bissaka were just been caught out, each that time Liverpool came forward. The pace of Salah, Diaz, Trent, and Robbo caught them out. Not only do these players have to go, but quite a couple. The team needs a rebuild and it needs to start soon.
LIVERPOOL CAPITALISING ON DEFENSIVE MISTAKES AT THE BACK
Liverpool went on to score a second in the 22nd minute. This time Mo Salah the man who has not scored in a while provided the goal. It came as a result of some good passing display. The ball broke to Sadio Mane who wasted no time delivering a reverse ball for Salah to slot home.
Liverpool scored a third through Sadio Mane, who looked to be coming to his brilliant best. It was one-touch football all around. Mane slotted home cooly with ease to send Anfield into raptures. The United faithful dejected.
Then the 4th goal came through Salah by then the match as a contest was already over. There was almost a fifth goal right at the end. A corner taken was met by the head of Jota whose flick on almost found a Liverpool player. But the ball eventually touched a United player's feet. Then finally the referee for the day Martin Atkinson brought proceedings to an end.
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