Liverpool produced a performance of authority and class to beat Manchester United 3-0 at Old Trafford.
Sunday’s Premier League clash was settled by Luis Diaz’s first-half brace – which came after Trent Alexander-Arnold had seen an early goal disallowed – and a Mohamed Salah strike in the early stages of the second half.
The Reds therefore go into the international break with a perfect record of nine points, while scoring seven times and conceding zero, from their opening three top-flight matches of the season under Arne Slot.
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Slot opted to name an unchanged starting XI and substitutes’ bench from last week’s victory over Brentford, meaning, as expected, the game came too soon for Federico Chiesa to make his Liverpool debut.
First half
Following a front-foot start from the hosts, the Reds appeared to have taken the lead seven minutes in when, at the end of an incisive move, Alexander-Arnold powered home the loose ball from inside the area.
However, the goal was ruled out after a VAR review concluded that Salah had been offside in the build-up.
The contest settled down thereafter, with little in the way of goalmouth action at either end until Diaz took centre stage with a double in the space of seven minutes – both of which were assisted by Salah.
via www.liverpoolfc.com
Ryan Gravenberch played a key role in the opener, too, the midfielder intercepting Casemiro’s pass before Salah delivered a fine cross to the back post, where both Diaz and Dominik Szoboszlai were unmarked.
The Colombian applied the finishing touch with his head and, for the second season in a row, put Liverpool ahead at Old Trafford.
And, after Alisson Becker had made a smart save to deny Noussair Mazraoui, the advantage was quickly doubled.
Again Diaz and Salah did the damage – this time, the No.7 retrieved possession by pickpocketing Casemiro and rapidly found Salah.
The Egyptian then provided a superb outside-of-the-boot pass, which Diaz guided past Andre Onana at his near post with a firm, first-time hit.
Second half
Alisson was again needed soon after the restart, the goalkeeper turning Joshua Zirkzee’s attempt away, but another textbook example of pinching possession deep in opposition territory quickly led to Liverpool’s third goal.
Alexis Mac Allister was responsible on this occasion, the midfielder nicking the ball away from Kobbie Mainoo before finding Szoboszlai. The No.8 strode forward and fed Salah who, naturally, produced a clinical finish to score his customary Old Trafford goal.
The Reds were rampant in the minutes that followed and Salah twice went close to making it four prior to another important intervention from Alisson, who clawed away a Zirkzee header from point-blank range.
Slot introduced Cody Gakpo in place of Diaz and the Dutchman’s first involvement of note was to direct a header wide from Szoboszlai’s cross.
With Liverpool buoyant, it felt like a repeat of the 5-0 rout here three years ago may be on the cards and Szoboszlai could have added a fourth following a brilliant sequence of play, but he elected to take a touch rather than shoot and the opportunity was gone.
In the closing moments, Darwin Nunez curled a low effort narrowly wide after a wondrous first touch from Salah had set Slot’s team away again, and it remained 3-0 at the final whistle.
via www.liverpoolfc.com
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