Liverpool 7 Man Utd 0: Humiliation for Ten Hag’s side as biggest defeat for 92 YEARS leaves Quadruple dream in tatters
WELL at least there is a consolation for Manchester United after this devastating derby drubbing – their scouting department is clearly on the ball.
Because it was Cody Gakpo and Darwin Nunez – two United targets nabbed by Liverpool – who inflicted a defeat which comprehensively ended Erik ten Hag’sslim prospects of winning the Premier League title.
In a devastating seven-minute burst either side of half-time, Dutch forward Gakpo struck twice, either side of a header from Uruguayan striker Nunez, and Jurgen Klopp’s resurgent side moved ominously to within one place of the Champions League spots.
Mo Salah broke Liverpool’s Premier League scoring record by hammering a double of his own to complete United’s misery, then Nunez added his second as United were crushed and utterly humiliated.
There had been fanciful talk of Ten Hag’s side aiming for a quadruple in recent weeks, but those ambitions have certainly been reduced after the heaviest defeat in the history of this fixture.
And it was the sort of thrashing which may well have a wide-ranging effect on the remainder of United’s campaign.
This was only their second defeat in 21 games, and they had secured their first trophy in six years the previous weekend, but the scale of the victory and the nature of their sudden collapse was deeply worrying.
Rampant Liverpool – returning to the vintage form of the Klopp era – chalked up a fifth straight Premier League clean sheet and are now just three points behind fourth-placed Tottenham with a game in hand.
Even during a poor season for Klopp’s side, they have still managed to roll over for some top sides at Anfield – Newcastle, Manchester City and now this thumping success over a club they enjoy beating more than any other opponent.
Dutchman Gakpo, a long-term United target signed by Liverpool from PSV Eindhoven for £37m in January, was excellent.