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Liverpool Beat Man United to Go Top of Premier League Table

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Liverpool ran riot on Manchester United for the second time this season to move top of the Premier League as Mohamed Salah struck twice in a 4-0 thrashing on Tuesday night.

Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool side won 5-0 at Old Trafford in October 2021 and expectations of a similar rout were well-founded as Liverpool exposed the massive gulf between the sides with Luis Diaz and Sadio Mane also on target.

The win takes Liverpool two points ahead of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League table, with seven league games remaining to win the title.

Read Also: Premier League: Klopp charges Liverpool to reclaim title lead

Liverpool

In contrast to the fine margins separating Liverpool and Man City, a 22-point gap now lies between the league leaders and Man United in sixth with only Tottenham and Arsenal’s failings keeping the Red Devils in the race to qualify for next season’s Champions League.

Manchester United interim manager Ralf Rangnick forewarned what would happen to his side if they defended as they did in a 3-2 home win over bottom-of-the-table Norwich on Saturday.

Rangnick’s attempt to plug the holes in the Man United defence was a recall for Phil Jones, making just his second Premier League appearance since January 2020, as part of a back five.

But it took just five minutes for Man United’s defence to collapse.

Mane’s through ball picked out Salah in acres of space and he found Diaz to apply a simple finish from close range.

Two minutes later the fierce rivalry between English football’s two most successful clubs was set aside in a show of support for Cristiano Ronaldo.

The Portuguese superstar was missing for United after revealing on Monday that his newborn baby son had died.

Supporters on all sides of Anfield stood for a minute’s applause, while the Liverpool fans sang their anthem “You’ll never walk alone”.

On the field, the one-way traffic continued with United barely able to get out of their half.

A second Liverpool goal seemed inevitable and when it arrived, it was of the highest quality.

Joel Matip fizzed the ball into Mane’s feet and the Senegalese lofted a first-time pass over the top for Salah.

The Egyptian had not scored for Liverpool from open play since February this year but showed no signs of a lack of confidence as he cushioned the ball into his path and slotted low past David de Gea.

Diaz rounded off another brilliant team move before half-time only to be flagged offside.

Half-time offered United some respite and they improved markedly after the break thanks to the introduction of Jadon Sancho.

The England winger created the visitors’ one big chance to get back into the game as Alisson Becker spread himself to block Marcus Rashford and Anthony Elanga.

Liverpool are now potentially 10 games away from a first-ever quadruple of Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup and League Cup titles.

And they look set to pounce on any wobble from City in the run-in with their lethal collection of forwards all in top form.

Mane coolly steered home the third from Diaz’s cross to end any hope of a United revival.

Salah then took his tally for the season to 30, five of which have come in two games against United, as he lifted the ball over De Gea from Diogo Jota’s pass five minutes from time.

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