Liverpool Massacre United at the Theatre of Dreams

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It was carnage at Old Trafford as Liverpool again showed they were the better side, thrashing Manchester United 3-0 in the Premier League. 

With the 7-0 defeat in hand, Liverpool has handed over two of their biggest wins against Manchester United in a matter of two seasons. 

All the while, Erik ten Hag is in the manager’s seat at Manchester United. 

The Liverpool fans hovering around for last-minute tickets to the game from the secondary ticket market saw their money as being completely worth it, as their side showed that Liverpool was a class apart. 

How It Unfolded 

Luis Diaz’s header handed the visitors the advantage 10 minutes before half-time after Trent Alexander-Arnold had seen a potential early opener chalked off after a VAR review.

Diaz then doubled his tally seven minutes later with a low finish into the bottom corner after being picked out by an intricate pass from Mohamed Salah.

Later, Salah followed up with a magnificent goal, pleasing all the fans who had sourced their valuable tickets from the secondary ticket market. It was magical. 

The Egyptian scored against United in the Premier League for the 12th time after the break. Liverpool punished yet another mistake from the Red Devils’ midfield to add some gloss to the scoreline.

The triumph sees Liverpool join Manchester City as the only two sides with perfect records after three matches, while United enters the international break in 14th with three points.

Major Win for Arne Slot 

Liverpool’s triumph marked a statement victory in Slot’s early tenure, with the Dutchman becoming the second Reds boss to win their first meeting away from home against United since George Kay in November 1936.

Slot also became the third manager to win his first three Premier League games without conceding, after Sven-Goran Eriksson in 2007 and Jose Mourinho in 2004.

But the day belonged to Liverpool’s Egyptian King.

Salah is the first player to score in five straight-away appearances against the Red Devils in the Premier League; Dion Dublin (v Tottenham Hotspur), Alan Shearer (v Leeds United), Ruud van Nistelrooy (v Newcastle United), Robert Pires (v Tottenham Hotspur) and Jamie Vardy (v West Bromwich Albion) are the only other players to net in as many consecutive away trips to the same opponent in the competition.

Salah has now scored ten goals in nine appearances at Old Trafford for Liverpool in all competitions.

All with tickets from the Liverpool side from the secondary ticket market have always returned from Old Trafford smiling and in joy. It has always been mainly because of one man – Mo Salah. 

He is only the second player to score ten or more goals at a single away ground for Premier League clubs since 1992-1993, after Alan Shearer (10 at Elland Road).

In the final year of his contract, Salah wants to embrace every moment of his eighth season with Liverpool.

“A great result. Everyone knows the derby is important for the fans and the city,” he said after the match. “We need to carry on, and if you want to fight for the league, you have to win each game.

“The manager likes us to press high, and there were a couple of mistakes, but we managed to punish them – it was part of the plan.

The End of the Egyptian King? 

Mohamed Salah appeared to plead for a new Liverpool contract by stating “nobody in the club” has discussed a fresh deal with him and saying, “It’s my last year in the club” after orchestrating their 3-0 victory at Manchester United on Sunday.

The 32-year-old forward scored one and set up the other two for Luis Díaz as Erik ten Hag’s team suffered a damaging defeat. Salah said: “To be fair, I was coming to the game [as if] it could be the last time I was playing at Old Trafford]. 

Nobody in the club has talked to me about contracts. It is not up to me, it is up to the club.”

Talking to Sky Sports, the Egyptian said: “As you know, it’s my last year in the club. I just want to enjoy it, I don’t want to think about it. I feel I’m free to play football, so let’s see what’s going to happen next year.”

When Salah’s words were put to Arne Slot, the new manager refused to be drawn on the forward’s future. “A lot of ifs, but at this moment, he is one of ours, and I am really happy with him being one of ours. He played well. I don’t talk about contracts,” Slot said.

“He was impressive, like [in] the first two games, but if you talk about an individual, you don’t do justice to the others. All the attention goes to Mo and Lucho [Díaz], but that doesn’t do justice to the other nine and the ones who came in.”

Two Casemiro errors presaged Díaz’s goals, and the Brazilian was taken off at half-time. Ten Hag denied a report that he left the ground at the interval. “I met him after the game in the dressing room,” the manager said.

“I subbed him because we are 2-0 down, and against an opponent like Liverpool with their qualities, we have to take risks because we want to come back, so we need players who can cover ground and put Toby [Collyer] on the pitch.”

The Dutchman was asked if the 32-year-old was in decline. “In football, everyone has to take responsibility. I am sure he is a great character – he has won everything you can imagine in his career, and I am sure he will keep contributing to our team.”

Manuel Ugarte, bought from Paris Saint-Germain to succeed Casemiro, was signed too late to be eligible for the game. 

“We have to build his fitness, and I am sure he will be an important player. Josh Zirkzee has made big steps in the last three or four weeks, and I am very pleased with his performance today [at No 9].”

United only had three points from their first three games and a goal difference of minus three. 

In his third season, Ten Hag denied that his team was committing similar errors to previous ones.

Soon, ticket options will open up for Liverpool’s UEFA Champions League games in the secondary ticket market. 

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