How Liverpool demolished United 7-0 at Anfield

Liverpool on Sunday night thrashed Manchester United 7-0 at Anfield in perhaps the most epic Premier League drubbing of them all.

Cody Gakpo, Darwin Nunez and Mohamed Salah each scored two goals in an extraordinary performance by Jurgen Klopp’s side before Roberto Firmino added the seventh as United capitulated. It is the club’s heaviest loss since 1931, reports Sky Sports.

Nobody could have predicted this beforehand, or even at half-time, but Liverpool did begin with real intensity, pushing hard for the opener with Salah to the fore and Andy Robertson raiding down the left but clear-cut chances for the home side took some time to come.

Lisandro Martinez’s elbow on Salah, unspotted by the officials, added to the early sense of frustration among the home support and United actually had the better chances while the game was goalless. Fernandes headed wide. Rashford finished tamely.

Jurgen Klopp made three changes to the Liverpool team that beat Wolves with Andy Robertson, Jordan Henderson and Cody Gakpo coming in. The three to drop to the bench were Kostas Tsimikas, Stefan Bajcetic and Diogo Jota.

There were no surprises in Erik ten Hag’s Manchester United selection as he named the same starting line-up that won the Carabao Cup final against Newcastle.

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• How Liverpool demolished United 7-0 at Anfield

When Casemiro’s header was ruled out for a clear offside, momentum seemed to be with the visitors having ridden the storm and the luck, but Gakpo’s intervention changed that. Slipped in by Robertson, he cut inside to finish fiercely into the far corner. Anfield erupted.

Ahead by one at the interval, the game still felt in the balance, but that changed soon after. Luke Shaw’s loose pass eventually led to Harvey Elliott standing up a cross for Nunez to head in from close range. It was a big moment for the much-criticised Uruguayan.

Salah was the architect of the third goal, making Martinez look foolish on the flank before threading a pass through for Gakpo to finish neatly once more. Liverpool were in the mood, confidence flowing through the team, the intensity that had appeared lost now restored.

Salah grabbed a goal of his own to make it four and he did so on the counter-attack after the ball deflected his way following Nunez’s breakaway, the Egyptian lashing the ball high into David De Gea’s net. United were in shock. Liverpool just hungry for more.

The fifth came when Nunez scored his second header of the game, leaving the field soon after alongside Gakpo, both men receiving rapturous receptions from the crowd. The chaos did not stop, however. Salah tapping in after more hapless United defending to become Liverpool’s record Premier League goalscorer.

All that remained was for Firmino to have his moment. News that he would be leaving the club in the summer had emerged this week and the Brazilian received a huge welcome, making it extra special by scoring the seventh on one of the great Anfield nights.