Liverpool ramped up the pressure on title rivals Man City by dispatching a lackluster Man United side 4-0 tonight at Anfield.
It took just five minutes for title chasing Liverpool to cut through Man United’s shambolic five man defence, with Mohamed Salah breaking down the right and playing a inch perfect ball into the stride of Colombian attacker Luis Dias who duly fired past a hapless David De Gea.
Manchester United fans will have come into the game with low expectations, but even so the gulf in class and intensity between the two sides was nothing of embarrassing and on 22 minutes Liverpool deservedly went two up. Sadio Mane played a wonderful first time ball in behind the United defence and into the path of Salah, who took a sublime first touch and slotted home beyond De Gea.
However, complacency seemed to seep into Liverpool’s game at the beginning of the second-half and by the time a dreadful Marcus Rashford meekly shot straight at Alisson from eight yards out the home crowd let their team know they needed to up there game. That spark would come from Andy Robertson who beat Anthony Elanga to the ball and drove forward before laying the ball off to Dias. The January signing quickly played a cut back to Mane who finished brilliantly first time with his left foot.
Liverpool put the icing on the cake with five minutes left to play when the impressive Robertson played in Salah, with the Egyptian attacker’s deflected shot lobbing De Gea.
MOHAMED SALAH’S DROUGHT IS WELL AND TRULY OVER 😤 pic.twitter.com/iJOnf7zGAe
— GOAL (@goal) April 19, 2022
The Anfield outfit go two points ahead of Man City after tonight’s win, although Pep Guardiola’s side have a game in hand against Brighton tomorrow. Speaking afterward Liverpool coach Jurgen Klopp was understandably pleased with his sides display.
“They changed a bit second half and pressed a bit differently. We didn’t find direction to pass the ball in and around the six-yard box and they end up with a corner,” Klopp told Sky Sports.
”But what this team does really well is adapt to changes. To learn on the pitch. From time to time it takes a little longer.
”The rest of the game was just nice to watch. Top football. The desire we showed from the first second. The first goal was pure determination. Two players getting in behind and first touch. Luis was alone in front of the goal. An outstanding goal.
”Second goal, a wonderful goal. The play between Sadio and Mo. Could have scored more. A good night for all with a Liverpool heart.”
