Liverpool gives Ten Hags United merciless beating (7-0), two goals Gakpo

Liverpool treated Manchester United to a merciless beating in the Premier League: 7-0. Cody Gakpo, Darwin Núñez and Mohamed Salah became Anfield’s red heroes with two goals each.

It is a success for Liverpool that the club can use to good effect after the recent humiliation in the Champions League by Real Madrid, which triumphed 5-2 at Anfield.

For United and coach Erik ten Hag, it is the second defeat in 21 official matches. The club also equals a negative club record with the biggest defeat ever.

“Everyone had told me a lot about this match,” Gakpo told Sky Sports afterwards. “We were eager to score and also to go ahead. We had luck on our side at times, but we also defended strongly. I think compared to the previous games we took a step forward.”

Ten Hag’s team had the upper hand in the lively first half. However, Bruno Fernandes headed just wide, Marcus Rashford shot the ball straight at goalkeeper Alisson Becker and Casemiro was offside when he headed in.

Gakpo showed why Liverpool had a fee of around 50 million euros for him in the past transfer period. The striker made the 1-0 in characteristic fashion by curling the ball beautifully into the far corner.

Shortly after halftime, Núnez headed in from close range and Gakpo made it 3-0 with a magnificent seesaw after a wonderful one-two with Salah.

Salah was responsible for the 4-0 with a hard shot and made it 6-0 with a nick. The 5-0 was a header by Núnez and Roberto Firmino also fired in a hit shortly before time.

Liverpool coach Jürgen Klopp was obviously delighted. “I have no words for it. This was spectacular,” the German said.

“I saw top soccer against the team in form. Everything was very good. But this is soccer, because United is experiencing a good season, we are experiencing a lesser season, but this can happen. We showed what we are capable of.”

Salah is Liverpool’s all-time top scorer in the Premier League thanks to his two goals. The Egyptian has now scored 129 times in the league. Until Sunday, Robbie Fowler led that list with 128 goals.

In Ten Hag’s eyes, United after halftime was no longer the team that had achieved so many good results in the recent period. “I have no words for it. Despite a good first half we lost our heads, I thought it was very unprofessional.”

“I am disappointed and angry about it. I saw eleven individuals on the field. This is a strong signal we are getting and we have to think about this. We can come back from this, but this was very bad afternoon.”